Did you know. . . . . . . .?

 

 . . . . . . .my father roller skated with Agatha Christie!

That's not him in this photo with Agatha in the center. He would have

 been only 10 years old at that time, however he told me that he skated on

 the same Torquay pier at the harbour as a boy and recalled seeing her and

her friends having a great time.

Agatha on the right above.

Agatha center - Rock Walk background

Princess Pier - my photo taken from the condo above the harbour where we

 stayed at Christmas 2016

The pier is still there and although I've never roller skated on it I have

sauntered along it more times than I can count. At one time there was

a theatre/dance hall at the end but it was destroyed in a fire in April 1974

and sadly never re-built. Ferry boats operate from the end of the pier and

 cross Tor Bay to the busy fishing town of Brixham.

The seaside piers of Britain are an indisputably iconic fixture of life in many

 of the coastal cities and towns, whether for function or fun.

Currently many huge cruise ships, including Cunard's Queen Victoria (one 

of my favorites as we've sailed on her twice) are sheltering in Tor Bay and 

along the English Channel coast while inoperable due to COVID-19.

This past Sunday PBS aired an interesting TV documentary about

 the late Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie with several views

 of Torquay, my own home town, where she was born and spent her

early life. . . . .as did I much later.

Granddaughter Jasmin 'meeting' Agatha Christie 

Torquay, June 2015

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 

15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her sixty-six

 detective novels and fourteen short story collections, particularly those revolving

 around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's

 longest-running play, The Mousetrap, which was performed in the West End from

 1952 to 2020, as well as six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, 

she was made a Dame (DBE) for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records 

lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold

 more than two billion copies. 

Via Wikipedia

A recently published book titled 'The Mystery of Mrs. Christie' 

by Marie Benedict has tweaked my interest. . . . . . 

Described as 'Historical fiction, British literature, meta-mysteries, the real-life

1926 disappearance of novelist Agatha Christie, interesting questions, 

reckless conjecture.'

If anyone has read this book I would love to know what you thought of it.

Can you tell I'm homesick?

Living at the seaside. . . . . . .

 Growing up in Torquay was a privilege. 

Recovering after WWII, it was still a more simple town, a small fishing port,

 on a lovely bay opening on to the English Channel. Although not visible, 

as children we would wave to France across the water!

Still important in British history, but quiet and elegant, it remained one of the

 loveliest places on the south coast to visit for a 'seaside holiday' with it's many 

beaches, hotels, guest houses, bed & breakfast establishments . . . . . . . . . . and

 now of course AirBnBs and vacation rentals.

Built on seven hills, you can see some of the older historic buildings still standing,

but of course times change and blocks of flats and condos have appeared.

Although we've enjoyed renting some lovely flats and houses over the past

 15 years when visiting (since the family house was sold), we are now excited to

 see - after years of planning permission - a Hampton Inn by Hilton hotel being

 built right on the harbour side (crane on left below), to be completed next year, 

so future visits home will most likely find us staying there. 

As family and friends agree, we're now at the age for ease, comfort,

access to public transportation, and in-town location, all of which a modern

 hotel can offer, and for us holidays now require cooking and housekeeping

 done by others. . . . . plus good lighting in the bathroom, haha!

I have so much more to share about this great trip home. 

It will take some time to edit photos and write posts.

We are now preparing to leave home early next week!

Yes, crossing the pond again - excited, and definitely happy that we'll be

 missing expected extremely oppressive hot, dry weather here in NC - please

 God spare the lovely hydrangea bushes - and heading to the cool and

perhaps damp shores of Ireland.

I'll be back here when I can - don't think I've forgotten you!

 Wikipedia covers the history of lovely TORQUAY quite well if you

 would like to know more about the town.

Goodbye dear hometown. . . . . . .

Sunset last evening - view across the marina from our window.  

Today we are packing and will be heading to London. 

Tomorrow, a train ride into the city from our airport hotel

for a quick look around . . . . . perhaps a little shopping

 even though the bags are overflowing already, then flying

 home on Wednesday.

It has been one of my most favorite visits home during my

 many, many back and forth journeys across the pond over

 the past almost 56 years!

Lots to share with you later.

Quick hello. . . . . . .

I am busy, extremely busy!

Coming home has been wonderful but nonstop.

Posting here is on the back burner - have photos

 to share and tales to tell but all have to wait.

Early morning views right at this moment below . . . . . 

 . . . . . from the windows of the Edwardian apartment

by Torquay harbour, and the room I'm sitting in now!

Photos via iPhone

Water, water everywhere!!!

Torquay Harbour, Devon

The arrow marks the spot. 
This is where we'll stay for the upcoming visit to my home town in England -
following a couple of nights in Bath on the way south.

On the water, close to everything, and with no treacherous steps

 like the last visit HERE.

This photo is actually taken from the hilltop where we stayed last time.

Yes, the view was amazing but the access problem - especially climbing
 up and down 277 slippery old steps on wet winter days - was not.

Have you visited southwest England? It really is beautiful so if you haven't
made it there yet I hope some day you will.

P.S.  Always something before travel starts - such this morning. 
The washing machine decided not to stop filling and we paddled through the kitchen
 with a load of towels to mop up a lot of water!!!!
This is why I never leave home with either the washer (floods) or dryer (fires) running.
 Repairman coming tomorrow! 

Traveling to London. . . . . . . . .

 . . . . . from the West Country was not easy the past couple of days. 

Cold, damp nights brought icy conditions and thick fog on the main motorways, 

sadly there were several multi-vehicle pileups with at least one fatality during early

 morning commuting hours.

We awoke early this morning and I rushed to take photos from the balcony before

my cousin came to drive us to the coach station to catch our Heathrow airport bus.

I'd never seen Tor Bay like this, early on a foggy morning. Remember, I didn't live

 here with bay views as a youngster - so this was totally different from my memories

 of our lovely town by the sea.

The tiny boat is the small winter ferry which plies back and forth between Torquay

 and Brixham, carrying mostly commuters on its 25 minute journey. We've watched

 it chugging back and forth several times a day whilst staying in the flat.

Today, the fog banks gave the shoreline a beautiful mystical look which was a

 new and quite different view of my hometown. . . . . . one I will always remember.

We are now in our hotel at Heathrow. 

Our window looks out onto the main runway of this gigantic world famous airport.

 We always request a room on this side as we love watching planes leaving for every

 corner of the world. Every 2 minutes a jet takes off. . . . . . it's been happening since

 our arrival at 3 PM and still continues now at 11 PM as I sign off here. 

Soon though it will shut down for the night. We will then enjoy calm hours for our

 'last sleep' here in my lovely England before flying back to the USA tomorrow.

Christmas Eve at home in England . . . . . . . .

The spectacular sunrise from the balcony on our first morning in Torquay yesterday.

The sky was on fire for several minutes, turning the harbour and bay waters many 

shades of pink and mauve.

Torquay Harbour looking across to Brixham.

Later, one tiny passenger ferry arrived from Brixham, the little fishing port across 

the bay, and then the blustery day began.  Winds strong enough to knock one over,

 then rain. . . . . . but hard to use an umbrella without flying away Mary Poppins style!

Yes, English weather can be wild and wet especially here along the coast.

This lovely view is still here this morning, again with brilliant painted skies,

 screaming sea gulls, and I see the little ferry heading over from Brixham.

Much calmer weather is forecast for today but it will be turning colder.

 The shoppers will be making that last run on the shops.

This evening Christmas Eve parties will be in full swing.

Hopefully I can participate despite catching a miserable cold. . . . 

most likely from the ship where several people were hacking

 during the cruise. 

Hope your Christmas plans all work out and that you and your 

loved ones have a wonderful time. 

From beautiful Devon, a very Happy Christmas.

My old home on the bay. . . . . . . . . .

The arrow points to where we'll be staying for Christmas week this year.

Photos are from the rental website.

Although Winter, there will still be boats moored in the harbour and, for me, that

view is always lovely no matter the weather or season - after all it's HOME! 

This is the view from the balcony of the condo - the promenade gardens below

 the Rock Walk, the outer harbour, Living Coasts Aviary, and Tor Bay looking

 across to the tiny fishing port of Brixham where my dad was born in 1900.

It was, and still is, known as one of the best fishing areas in England with the 

fleet going out daily into the England Channel waters.

The Ferris wheel will be gone to its Winter location - but hopefully the sun will shine,

 the water will be calm, and brave sailors will still be boating across the beautiful bay.

I always love to go home. Being there for Christmas will be special.