Pennsylvania in the snow

The weather forecast did say there would be snow, as much as 10 inches. I did not really believe that, but on Saturday morning as I drove to Spring Grove for the start of the TFP 2011 Conference, it began to snow. And it continued to fall throughout the day. At first it waswet snow but eventually it began to accumulate until we had a sizeable depth of snow.

I was concerned about the journey back to my hotel at York, since it would be 9pm, dark and possibly icy.

But about 8pm, it stopped snowing. I got out to the car and brushed off the snow from the windshield. I had difficulty getting the car over the snow piled up in front of my car, but eventually I got out.

\the driveway had been ploughed and de iced, and when I got to the main road, it was clear, and no ice. I noticed the pavements were being cleared too, and the shoppling malll parks were clear as well. I passed 2 snow ploughs on the highway who were now clearing the snow from the edge of the road onto the hard shoulder. Impressive.

Back home, this amount of snow would have brought us to a standstill.

Gettysburg

This morning was cold, but sunny, so I decided to go to Gettysburg today.

ivil War and with the battle

It was about 45 minute drive. I crossed 3 roundabouts....novelty here!

I went to the town first. It has a huge connection with the Civil War and the battle which was fought all around it. The wounded were brought here. Many of the houses have links to those 3 days. And there are so many shops selling reproduction war goods, and in some cases real artefacts. Very expensive of course.

I visited the old railway station, had a coffee, then headed out to the Battlefield.

There is a Visitor Centre. There I watched a 25 minute movie about the Battle. A tremendous film,narrated my Morgan Freeman.

Then there was a circular room with a battlefield painting of 360 degrees, with an audio commentary.

Then I went round the museum.

Next was a Battlefield tour. You can drive round, or take a tour bus. You need 3 hours it says.

The battlefield is extensive. There are still buildings from thetime of the Battle, some still bearing the scars of Battle.

All in all, a fascinating and rewarding day.

This evening I spent at the TFP headquarters in Spring Grove. It was a social evening with beer and pizza and ice cream. The conference starts tomorrow.

Pics are Gettysburg town and battlefield

I'm in America

That was a long day.

I left home at 6am, parked the car at Parksafe, then went to the Airport.

Security was quite high, but I had no problems.

The Continental flight left bang on time....9am. The flight was full, which meant that I was unable to watch any films as my set had a problem with voices. 7 hours is a long time to twiddle your thumbs. And.....they charge you for wine!!!!!!

We arrived at wet Newark. I got throught security with no problems, collected my bags and went to Starbucks for a coffee. The second flight was delayed an hour until 3 15pm. So I parked myself at the gate an did crosswords. an hour beofre the flight, they moved it to a gate at the other side of the airport! Long walk with all my cases.

We left at 3 30pm, and the pilot was trying to make up time. I was worried just before take off. The air brakes were on as we sat at the end of the runway. But as we moved, they were retracted.....phewwwwwww.

We had a fast, very bumpy approach into Baltimore. A lot of rough turbulence. But we landed at dry Baltimore.

I collected my car a Ford...pick any of the cars in the line up...liked that.... and drove the 60 miles to York in the dark and rain.

Got here thanks to TomTom, had a meal at TGIF with 20% discount for Best Western guests....now bed. It is 3.20am UK time....I am zonked.

Pensylvannia Bound

This time tomorrow I will be in the United States of America. It seems very unreal.

I fly from Glasgow to Newark, then on to Baltimore. From there, I drive to York Pa, and will begin a busy week.

Over the weekend, I will take part in the American TFP Annual Conference.

On Monday I will be visiting Gettysburg.

Tuesday I drive north to Herndon to visit the TFP Academy.

On Wednesday, I will make my way back to Baltimore, and spend the night there before catching an early morning Thursday flight back to Newark.

From there, the evening flight back home to Scotland.

I have been teaching up until today, so I am tired, and tomorrow is going to be along day, but I am looking forward to new expereinces and meeting new folk along the way.

Our Lady has furnished me with the wherewithall to be able to afford this. Thankyou.

Our Gretna Break

I never weary of visiting Hadrian's Wall country. The wall itself is amazing, and to see it stretch into the distance is thought provoking. And there are many place where you can see clearly the wall, and the ditches in front of it, with the military road running behind the fortification.

The forts along the way are interesting places to visit, and where there is an audio commentary available, so much the better.

To think of those Romans all those years ago building this immense structure right across the North of England gives much food for thought.

The Antonine Wall near where we live is also impressive, but not on such a massive scale. This wall was an Earth construction, but still carried out its purpose.

There is a lot to see in and around the border. Carlisle is interesting, the whole Solway coastline is worth exploration.

These photos give some more ideas of what the wall was like and the area it exists in.

During our break we stayed at the Gables in Gretna. I would highly recommend this hotel.

We booked on Laterooms and got 3 nights for the price of 2. £98 for 3 nights bed and breakfast in a big comfortable room, with a large flat screen TV, free Wi-Fi in the room, and good quality food is exceptional value.

www.gables-hotel-gretna.co.uk

www.hadrians-wall.org

Hadrian's Wall 2011

This was our head for home day after our Gretna Break.

We awoke to a cold , frosty sunny morning.

So we headed out for Hadrian's Wall. The wall was built by Roman Legionnaries from Carlisle in the West to Newcastle in the East. It had banks and ditches in front of it and a long straight road behind it.

Even today, nearly 2000 years later, it is still impressive to see the remains of the wall running away into the distance, and climbing over hills and dales. All it lacks today is the original height.

Much of the wall was plundered after the Romans left, but thankfully enought remains of the wall and the forts such as Birdoswald and Housesteads.

We had a really enjoyable day exploring the wall, spending some time at Birdoswald, and at the Fort and Bath House at Chesters, 5 miles from Hexham.

Photos show the Wall disappearing into the distance, The bank and ditch, the fort and the bathhouse at Chesters.

Holm Cultram Abbey

It was a cold but sunny day today, so after breakfast at the Hotel, we set off South-East towards Silloth, Maryport and Whitehaven.

A few miles before Silloth, we saw a signpost marked Abbeytown, and we could see a fairly impressive church building.

So we came off the main road and drove towards it.

The board in the Church grounds announced, The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Grand Daughter House of Rievaulx Abbey.

The Church was closed, but there was an Abbey Shop, so we went in. A coffee morning for the locals was in progress and we were immediately invited to joinj them for coffee and buns!

We were made very welcome, and one of the ladies explained a little about the church and the recent arson attack which destroyed much of the building. But they have plans to repair the damage and renew the inside of the Church.

The Abbey was founded in 1150 by Cicerstains from Melrose Abbey. It was built of red sandstone.

The buildings were extensive covering 10 acres, the grant of which was confirmed by Prince Henry of Scotland, who was also the Earl of Cumberland.

( see my blog about Kelso Abbey )

The Solway Region was held by the Scottish Crown from 1136 till 1157, after which it became part of the English Kingdom.

Benefactors on both sides of the Solway conferred gifts on the Abbey.

In 1216, the Scots raided the Abbey, carrying off books, vestments and altar vessels.

King Edward I stayed here with his army on his way to invade Scotland, and caame a second time in 1307.

But after his death at Burgh-by-Sands, Scottish riads became more frequent and intense.

The worst attack came in 1319, when the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, devastated the abbey, even though Bruce's father was buried at the Abbey.

After that, the Abbey struggled to survive, and in the 14th Century avoided another devastation by paying £200 to the earl of Douglas.

The Abbey was now in a dreadful state of repair. The pope granted indulgences to penitents who visited the Abbey and gave alms for repairs.

In 1536, the Abbot Thomas Carter took part in The Rebellion of the North, a protest against the suppression of the smaller monasteries.

In 1538, the larger monasteries were targeted for suppression, and the abbot at that time, Gawain Borrowdale, surrendered the Abbey with all its possessions and rights to the Layton and Leigh, the so called "Visitors."

The people of the area petitioned Cromwell that the Church be kept as not only weas it their parish church, but it offered refuge against the Scots. The Scots card won the day.

The abbey was one of only 4 Cistercian Abbeys to survive the Reformation.

Borrowdale was given a pension of £100 a year, the Abbot's house and and stables, and was appointed Rector of the parish.

The Living was given to Oxford University in 1557, and is still held by them.

In the intervening years, the building became more and more dillapidated. Attempts were made to halt the erosion. Sir Walter Scott paid for a new oak ceiling and a stained glass window.

If you are ever in the area, go and see it. Wednesday morning is a good time. Coffee morning, where the locals will tell you all about their Parish Church.

I am indebted to the writer of the Church History Pamphlet for my information!

Christian Money, the Christian council for Monetary reform

I attach here a document produced by my late father-in-law Peter Cahill.

Peter was a husband, a father, a teacher and a Catholic who took very seriously his duties as a catholic.

One of his long term actions was making people aware of the faults in the economic system operated by the banks throughout the world. He wanted people to be aware that Banks make money out of nothing. They create it as entries in a book, and then lend it out, charging interest.

Why should Countries not do this. The bank's money creation is based upon the wealth of a country. So why allow a bank to take on this roll for its own benefit. Let the Country create it's own Credit, its own money.

Peter was a firm believer in Social Credit, an economic system devised by CH Douglas. It operates in British Columbia, where each person recieves an annual dividend based on the wealth of the country.

With Lord McLeod of Funiary, and various others, Peter helped set up The Christian Council for Monetary Reform.

Read this document. Give it some thought. And remember....banks create money out of nothing. When they make a loan, no deposit is disturbed. The money is a myth. And banks have been getting away with this for years.

La Patrouille de France

Despite the weather, the Air Show was a most enjoyable experience.

I do enjoy all things to do with aeroplanes. I find it fascinating to watch them, to be up close to them, tom fly in them, and I have even had the odd lesson or 2. It was always a dream to attain a PPL, but it remained a dream.

To observe the skills of the pilots at such shows is awesome. The co-ordination in close flying formations, and even more so when the aircraft fly at each other across the airfield is breath taking.

We had watched the Red Arrows a few weeks before when they gave a display over the River Clyde at Greenock as part of the Tall Ships Event. Then, just before the Leuchars show, came the death of one of the Red Arrow pilots at Bournemouth.

I am sure it was difficult for the team to overcome their personal feelings, but they did, and gave a stirring performance.

The French squadron were for me the stars of the show. They were immense. They also did a fly past at the funeral of the Red Arrow Pilot, Jon Egging.

Strangely, one of my sons was in France a couple of weeks ago, visiting war sites. At one War Graves site, la Patrouille de France flew overhead.

Leuchars Air Show September 2011

Leuchars is an RAF base just outside St Andrews, in Fife.

Every year they have a hugely successful air Show. I have tried to go to it before but have had to give up due to traffic problems.

This year I went on a bus with the local Air Training Corps. It was easy and simple and the coach went straight into the base itself.

From there, a short walk to the airfield and a truly exciting day.

Unfortunately, the weather was not at it's best, and a number of aircraft were stuck in other parts of the UK. It was disappointing that that included the Battle of Britain Flight , with Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane.

But we were still thrilled by demonstrations from a number of aircraft and aerobatic troups.

There was of course The Red Arrows, still in shock from the loss of one of their pilots 2 weeks earlier at an airshow in the South of England.

There was La Patrouille Francaise, a crack French squadron who for me were the highlight. I had never seen them before, but am now a fan.

There was The Blades, 4 ex Red Arrow pilots in their single engined prop. aircraft.

The Vulcan jet was awesome, and the Dutch single fighter gave a dramatic display.

There was a catalina, a World war One bi plane, and at the end, a thrilling display complete with pyro-technics from aircraft based at Leuchars.

There were many static displays of aircraft and battle re-enactment groups from around the country.

I will be there next year too.

Kelso Abbey

During our short break in Northumberland, we ventured back across the border into Scotland.

People speak differently there, and they have different money from England........

We spent a couple of hours in Kelso, a Scottish border town.

Just behind the town square lie the ruins of Kelso Abbey.

The Abbey was founded in the 12th century by Tironensian monks, from Tiron, near Chartres.

This Community had entered Scotland in 1113, under the patronage of David I, while his brother Alexander I was king of Scotland.

They began at Selkirk, but abandoned that site and moved to Kelso in 1128, the abbey being dedicated to The Blessed Virgin and St John in 1143.

Being close to the border, the abbey was often caught up in the frequent wars between Scotland and England.

In 1299 the abbot was an Englishman Thomas de Durham, but the abbey always kept it's Scottish identity.

In 1460, King James II was killed withing sight of the Abbey. The infant James III was hastily crowned at the Abbey, and from then until 1540, control in the area was more settled and life became more settled.

Events in the mid sixteenth Century brought about the demise of the Abbey. It was seriously damaged under the orders of King Henry VIII of England as part of the so-called "Rough Wooing." Most of the border Abbeys such as Melrose and Jedburgh and Dryburgh were targeted for destruction by the English Army.

In 1560, the Protestant Reformation brought about the forced closure of all the Abbeys, and the Tironensian Community were no longer officially recognised by the Scottish Government.

In its time, Kelso Abbey was recognised as one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture.

http://www.kelso.bordernet.co.uk/history/kelso-abbey.html

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertydetail/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_165&PropName=Kelso%20Abbey

Warkworth Castle

Warkworth is a village which has existed since the 8th Century. The castle was founded after the Norman Conquest.

According to tradition it was Prince Henry of Scotland who built the castle. Under the Treaty of Durham, he became Earl of Northumberland in exchange for giving up the castles at Bamburgh and Newcastle.

There is a lot of History to this castle and today the ruins are very impressive.

It eventually became the property of the powerful Percy family. They already owned Alnwick Castle nearby, but preferred Warkworth.

The Percy crest, a Lion, still can be seen on one of the walls of the castle.

In the Rising in the North, Percy sided against Elizabeth. 2 years later Thomas Percy, earl of Northumberland was executed and the castle was plundered and fell into disrepair.

The castle is well worth a visit and the audio tour guide is excellent.

Alnwick and Bamburgh Castles are fairly close by and well worth visiting too.

My photos of the castle