Rosewitch, England was definitely one of my favorite places I have ever visited. My folks took me there when I was 14, and I remember bits and pieces the Crown jewels, walking amongst the Stonehenge stones (roped off now, vandalism), Stratford upon Avon. Time for me to take my own 14YO. Im trying to think how I can get over there for a whole summer, LOL. Dlynn, I could have worked so much more. I didnt really look at night time stuff and there was loads to do. Greece: cant help you, but shoot Yasou a line, she went a few years ago. LOL Annie! Teresa, well go together. I wanted to explore more cooking and food shops/stores but didnt get to. Terri, here is more a link to Pictures of England, a website pointed out to me by Denise. I started it on Bourton on the Water, where we stayed for a few days. Thanks Sharon, I was actually thinking how can I even come close to posting her quality of travel guides, I dont do the pictures she does LOL. We might have sat at the same table in the Cheshire Cheeses dining room! Sawdust still there, but we didnt make it to the cellar. I missed a lot of the British Museum. It has changed.check out the new atrium. I couldnt keep up with DH and DS16. Afternoons, when I planned museums, I crashed. Next time! Pam, lots of people did more than we did per day! Theater every night, more attractions, I cant imagine. Gina heh heh yeah I need another vacation like a hole in my head. Speaking of whichDH has another week off in August. Nooooooooo! Kathleen, DH says he took an average of 200 pictures a day. Yup. Me, I just buy the post cards or Google the images, same thing (DARFC from the photo bugs here) Cathy, thanks for giving me the War and Peace moniker heh heh. Next time I go with CF friends! LindaC, I know. Im still exhausted. Speaking of the V&A, did you know there was a Dale Chihuly chandelier in the entrance room?

Eliz. McGovern showed up -- live -- Sunday at the local TV studio during a break. She looked younger than she does in the show, and better -- no weird thick, down-drawn eyebrows! And she doesn't speak in a stilted manner like she does on the show, either ... a real improvement. My favourite characters -- Maggie Smith - a real hoot ... love some of the lines she comes out with and the Way She Says Them and how She Looks when she's saying them. There's a scene in which people at the Abbey are talking at once and in loud voices. MS walks into the room and says (something like this) - "No one converses like this -- except in New York!" Being from New York City I totally "got" this remark. O'Brian - the Lady's Maid -- Another "baddie." She provides some vinegar to the goody-goody atmosphere, along w/good old Maggie. Lady Sybil (youngest daughter volunteers as Red Cross nurse) - She's gung-ho about whatever passion she's in the wake of. Love her enthusiasm for Life! Anna & Bates - Good acting, and pretty good character development, I think. Seems as if the writer took more pains w/ them. Basically I think this is just a fancy-dress period soap opera. It's some of the acting, the costumes, the lush sets, grand buildings, and the beeeeautiful scenery I love.

I never got into this show. Friends greatly recommended it, so I watched one show. Like any soap opera, I was lost, had no idea who was who, what was going on. I would wait a couple years for the whole run to come out on DVD, then I'll binge-watch. Gossip wise, I heard Maggie Smith announced she was done with her role, in real time her character would be about 100 years old. So I guess since she's a main character, they decided to wrap it up on a high note.

liz/lemonhead it is only available on netflix here (apparently the BBC couldn't afford to make/buy it) so haven't seen it. The few write-ups I have seen have been surprisingly favourable. I suppose it might be difficult for some viewers to realise the conversations are all conjectural ie not based on what really was said. I read that Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress for the show cost £30,000 while for the actual dress HRH had to save her ration coupons for the material. Wedding of Princess Elizabeth