Friday 27 November - St. Chads

Building of the day - St. Alkmund's Close

The back bacon from Appleyards is amazing, almost a foot long and with lots of crispy rind.

There was a lunchtime concert given by the Shropshire Wind Ensemble in St. Chad's church today. 

Beethoven's Rondino in E flat minor was played by the octet of two  each oboes, clarinets, horns and bassoons.  They were joined by a contra bassoon for Krommer's Partita in F major.  The playing was good and the concert was well attended.  The contra-bassoon is a massive instrument that is not used a great deal.  It plays very low notes and was quite effective.

The contra-bassoon is centre right

Click on the above image to hear the first part of the Beethoven Rondino

From St. Chad's we had lunch at the Armoury.

Sea Bass

Beef bourguignon with apple dumplings

Waffle with apple and cinnamon ice cream

Walking back it was good to see that C.R. Birch (see Wednesday) does keep regular business hours.

Friday evening is bell ringing practice at St. Mary's church.

Thursday 26 November - A Lazy Day

Building of the day - Shrewsbury High Street at Milk and Fish Streets.  I just love the gingerbread. Appleyardsn is the second on the left.

Mary successfully completed the first laundry in the washing machine last night, always a chore getting used to a new and foreign machine.

A reminder of my Youth Hosteling days.  I always preferred the brown to the white

It has stopped raining but everything is wet so we decided to stay in town today. We did some grocery shopping and took a walk through the Quarry this afternoon.  We wanted to get some cheese at Appleyards on High Street.  They had a couple of men repairing a broken door hinge so we went to the Three Fishes while we waited to get in.  It would take a long time to taste our way through this cheesemonger.  Cheese and bacon is cut to order and there is a wonderful selection of jams, sauces, chutneys and pickles..  It was warmer today but the rowers must have been cold on the river.

Old St. Chads church

Pride Hill

It was fish and chip night at Cromwell's just down the street. It was quite good for the price. Mary had Chilean Sauvignon Blanc while I had pints of Butty Bach and Three Tuns Pale.

Wednesday 25 November - A Rainy Day

Building of the Day - Roushill at Mardol

The English Bridge

It has been raining on and off all day.  It is not particularly cold but not conducive to long walks.  We went back to the market to sample the dumpling house which, like the fishmongers has room for just 12 people.  

The daily special was excellent,  The dumplings (Ham and shrimp, Bejing and beef) were fresh, very light and cooked to order

The sweet scones had almost all been sold but there were a few cheese ones which were also very good.

 I found some pickled onions and piccalilli and am now set up.

C. R. Birch & Son have been in business since 1909 as an independent hardware store.  Maybe they were closed for lunch but I don't know.

The full story of C.R. Birch is found here:

End of an era as historic Shrewsbury shop to close its doors

We called in at the Three Fishes on the way back where a good number were having lunch.  Mary had her usual Sauvignon Blanc while I went Catatonic, a Salopian Brewery product - pale, strong and with a hint of grapefruit.

Tuesday 24 November - Shrewsbury Market

No matter where you look Shrewsbury has an amazing collection of interesting buildings

Butchers Row

Dogpole

The Shrewsbury two story market was open today.  It opens Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Thursday mornings.  We went in good time to get a seat at the fishmongers, there are only twelve places and it can be difficult to get a reservation later in the week.  The food is fresh and well prepared.

The Cornish crab platter went very well with a glass of Sancerre

Just looking around provides a lot of interest.  We purchased a hand raised pork pie that was made in Ironbridge.

This coupkle were selling very good scones.  They billed themselves as the Original Goon Show

Heard from a couple of men passing by, "So I grabs one of these and throws it at the guy.  It 'it 'im on the back of 'is 'ead and knocked 'im out."  High praise indeed - they were also pretty edible.

 Replete with fish we set out to make a reservation at the muliplex cimema then passed by Sutton Bridge Junction box, crossed the river at Coleham and walked by the river as far as the Welsh bridge.

From Greyfriars Bridge, Coleham, United Reform church on left, Shrewsbury Abbey on right

St. Chads

The Darwin monument across the river from the Theatre Severn can  be seen better this time of year when the leaves are off the trees.

Monday 23 November - Errands and Christmas Lights

When we were here last this building near St. Mary's was being renovated.  The quirky structure is well brought out in the repaint

Didn't do very much today.  The first order of business was to renew our railway two-for-one pass. We were stuck behind a couple of old ladies who had bought the wrong sort of ticket to Kilmarnock on the internet and wondered why the agent couldn't break the rules and issue a cheap ticket.  I am convinced this is how Monty Python obtained their material.  You can get someone's life story for the price of a train ticket.  The ticket agent was the lady who told me she remembered seeing the steam engines from her garden in Southend - it backed on to the railway line on which I used to fire the steam locomotives. I probably helped to dirty her mother's washing hung out on the line to dry. Last summer she allowed me into her office to look at the model of a Manor class steam locomotive.  I also fired these but I didn't have the heart to tell her they couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.

At the Theatre Severn booking office we were able, quickly, to purchase tickets for Cavalleria Rusticana/Il Pagliacci as well as The Mikado.

I just love these black and white buildings

In a shop window on St. Marys Street

   

The Christmas lights were switched on last Wednesday and make a grand show.  It is dark by 1700 so it is easy to come out and enjoy the show.

Pride Hill

Outside the Darwin Center

The Market Square

High Street

High Street

Pride Hill

Mary went to the movies this afternoon.  I met her at the Three Fishes where I took absolution in the form of a pint of Abbeydale Absolution beer.  We then walked back to look at the lights.

Supper was quiche, edamame and bean salad and pork scratchings. 

Sunday 22 November - Shrewsbury

View from apartment

Blogger hard at work

The apartment is located where St. Marys Street becomes Dogpole.

We have the two floors above the shop

After meeting our delightful landlady, Briony, we did a little more shopping for staples.  Most shops are open here on Sundays and the Darwin Centre and Pride Hill were busy.  The kids were beginning to become excited about Christmas and the syrupy Christmas favourites were being played full bore (I'm dreamin' of a White Christmas etc.).  This is one of the reasons we have been going to Paris - to miss the hackneyed music.

There was skating behind St. Mary's church.  The surface seemed to be very slippery tiles - not ice

A small snow machine caused great amusement among the kids.

Lunch was quiche and salad in the apartment and then we went to the Three Fishes.  Wendy was pleased to see us and we had a good chat although not much has been happening since we were last here.

The Quarry gardens have been put to bed for the winter and the only flowers were hydrangeas.  A couple of pairs of mallards were looking for handouts. 

Friday/Saturday 20-21 November - Travel Ottawa to Shrewsbury

We traveled by Air Canada to London, Heathrow Express to Paddington, Hammersmith and City line to Euston, Virgin trains to Birmingham New Street and London Midland to Shrewsbury where we arrived precisely on time at 1514. I even managed about three hours sleep on the plane.  We came in over Cardigan Bay on the borders of Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire and across the Preseli mountains (where the Stonehenge Blue Stones originated). Brecon Beacons were covered in snow although England was mostly green.  London was cold and very windy.  Walking into Euston station the wind was so strong that it was difficult to make headway with our cases.

The Virgin train to Birmingham was a Pendolino.  It was filled with soccer fans who were getting into the beer in preparation for the match.  They all fell out at Coventry and left behind a cascade of empty beer cans.  The resulting void was filled by a large party of Chinese tourists. There was a strong police presence on the trains but nobody asked to see our tickets.

Our first meal in England

The apartment is in the center of the town, just across from St. Mary's church.  It should work well for us.  The first order of business was to get a cell phone sim card then off to Marks and Spencer to get some supplies including Battenberg cake.  The Three Fishes was very busy on a Saturday evening but Danny was pleased to see us and welcome us back.

The apartment is in an old building and the floors are not very level.  It adds character.