First part of the UK journey

We have now been in Norwich for 5 days, and this is the first chance that I have had to sit down and write in my blog. There is so much to tell you all that I don't quite know where to start! I am sure that it will take me a day or two before I even finish writing this and get it posted!

So, lets begin and the beginning....The flight! Well Dan and I arrived at LAX about 4 hours before our flight was due to depart as we knew we had to go thru customs and all of that BS. So we figured that it would be best to go thru it all as soon as possible to get it over and done with. Once we did that we just kinda hung out. Had a beer in the lounge, an EXPENSIVE beer mind you! By the time our flight was ready to board we found that instead of the Boeing 777 we would be boarding a smaller plane so some of the passenger would have to take a later flight. At this point all I could think was "WHAT! oh hell no!!! so I quickly went to the counter to see if we were still on the scheduled flight which thank god we were! so all was well. Took FOREVER to finally take off but finally did. The flight its self was ok until we had to fly up into Canada I am assuming because of Hurrican Irene. That is where the flight became my worst nightmare! We hit some pretty bad turbelence. Now when I say bad, I mean the entire plane felt as if I was on a freakin bull being tossed about! And dropped a few feet! I don't think Dan realized how serious I was about the fact that I was afraid to fly until I had my hand dug into his and he looked over at me and saw the tears streaming down my face. That had to be the scariest thing I have ever been thru!!! I didn't like it at all! I prayed to every bloody saint, goddess, deities I could think of to just get me thru it and get me back on the ground in one piece. If I am gonnna die in a plane crash let it be on the way home! After I have experienced England and Ireland!

When we finally landed in London and got thru customs it seemed like it took forever to get thru to where Dawn and Darryl were waiting for us. As we rounded the gate I spotted Dawn right away! I could see that she hadnt quite seen me yet so I just raised my arm and gave her a good wave and the smile that came over her face was worth the 10 hours of hell I had just been thru! As I finally let go of my bag and just got up to her and was able to finally wrap my arms around her, my sister, my long lost soul sister it all felt complete. I had come full circle. I was back where I belonged. I was home. The other part of me that I had always felt was missing was now there. And we started in with each other like we had just seen each other yesterday! The comfort was there. She is everything I knew she would be. And I love her even more then I thought I would. We are definatley alike! it is quite funny actually. On the 2nd day here Dawn and I went and got matching Tattoo's. We now have a celtic sister symbol on our right wrist. I wish I could add pictures to this blog but every time I try it wont let me. So if you dont have a facebook account you may want to consider it, as I am putting pictures on there every night of the photos I have taken that day. Since I cant do them here. So if you do get a facebook page you can find me as Maureen Hill Jensen.

Until the next time folks. Which in all honesty probably wont be until we get to Ireland! Love and miss you all!!!!

UK or Bust!

Well my friends the time has finally come! We are on our way. I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am! I'm a bit nervous too as I don't like to fly. And the thought of being cooped up in a plane for just over 10 hours is not exactly my idea of fun. But I have been working on my meditation and have some movies downloaded to my Ipad as well as some nice relaxation music.  I am keeping my eye on the prize so to speak and that will get me thru!

 I cant wait to walk off the plane and actually get to finally, after all these years see Dawn face to face and be able to hug her! It has been a long time coming. Dawn did tell me that on the 3rd we are schedule to meet up with some other friends at Weeting Castle for an nightly Ghost investigation.  I am really looking forward to that!!!  I know that some of my friends here wish they were going too. But I will be sure to write all about my adventures the next day! And  am sure I will have tons of pictures.  There are so many wonderful adventures she has planed for us. So have no fear there will be plenty of pictures to keep you all entertained.  And that is BEFORE we get to Ireland!

So, keep coming back and seeing what new and fun things we have been up too!!!!!  But now its time for Dan and I to sail off into the sunset as our adventures await!

Castle Rising

Well here we are with 22 days to go! I am getting really excited. I know that my lovely and amazing "Sister across the Sea" Dawn has all kinds of wonderful places lined up for us to see. I know that we will be going on ghost hunt at Weeting Castle while we are there. She did just recently tell me that she has Castle Rising on the agenda. I got pretty excited about that! As I have heard about Castle Rising and am very intrigued by it. It is reportedly Haunted by Queen Isabella of France. In fact Castle Rising was just on a recent episode of Ghost Hunters International.  So I hope you enjoy reading some of the history of Castle Rising! ~

Castle Rising is one of the most famous 12th century castles in England. The stone keep was built around 1140 AD, and is amongst the finest surviving examples of its kind anywhere in the country.  The magnificent keep at Castle Rising was built by William D'Albini II to celebrate his marriage to he widow of Henry I and his acqacquisition of the earldom of Sussex and was modeled on the keep at Norwich, built by Henry I. It soon became one of the most important keeps in East Anglia, boasting a large list of several Lords and Ladies, from the D'Albigny Earls of Sussex to the Howard Duke of Norfolk, with Isabella Queen of Edward II, being its most famous resident.

Queen Isabella

In fact the castle is reportedly haunted by Queen Isabella of France. She was known as the "She-wolf of France". She married Edward II in 1308, but soon found he preferred the company of men. She became the mistress of Roger Mortimer and in 1326 they took the throne from Edward II. They imprisoned him in Berkeley Castle and in 1327 had him murdered. They enjoyed a brief period in power but Isabella's son, Edward III, took control in 1330 and had Mortimer executed. They say she went mad with the loss of her lover. And you can hear her screams through out the castle.

Early in its life, at about 1140, a mint was established ad continued to produce coins for several years. Rising remained within the D'Albigny family for the next 200 years, after which, several leading families held it until it came into the hands of the Crown by its sale. A royal ownership followed lasting until he 16th Century.  This was to be the brightest period in the castle's history with Kings, Queens and Princes all staying at the Keep.

In 1337, By Charter dated October 1st and enrolled upon the Charter Rolls, Edward III altered the terms of the original Montalt conveyance of 10 years before. He granted the Castle and Manor to Edward, Black Prince of Wales, along with the newly created Duchy of Cornwall. Ownership of the Castle was to take effect after the death of Isabella, and remain, with the Duchy, to be passed on to its heirs, or in the event of no heirs, reversion to the Crown. Edward, Black Prince of Wales, added it to his vast possessions and retained it until his early death in 1376. During his ownership, and after much money was spent strengthening the fortifications in case of a landing from the French, and were several times put on a state of alert.

Over the next few years it changed hands several times whilst being held by Richard II. Its owner include John, Duke of Brittany, Husband of King's sister Joan,the Fair maid of Kent. Thomas, Duke of Gloucester, the King's uncle, and Uncle, Edmund, Duke of York. from 1403 until 1544 the Castle was again back in the hands of the Duchy of Cornwall, held by the Duke and Prince when there was one, and by the King when there was not.

In 1461 during the War of the Roses, the Castle was once more put on a state of alert, when Yorkist Edward IV was about to displace the Lancastrian Henry VI. The King' men of Norfolk were ordered to take over the Castle and hold it with sufficient Men-at-Arms. This was to be the start of the decline of Castle Rising.

Well Friends, do keep an eye on my blog as while we are on our vacation I will be keeping you up on whereabouts. I will try and post pictures and updates  as often as I can or at least as often as we can get an Internet connection.  Much love!

43 days and counting

Wow, well here we sit with 43 days before departure! GAH!!!!  I cant believe how fast the time is finally starting to fly! And I have a feeling its going to start to really fly now. I think we have finally got everything done that needs to be done for the trip. And if not i guess I will find out sooner or later...... and I am hoping for sooner rather then later! I guess my only worry now really is the flight. Since I don't like to fly and I am going to be on a plane for 10 hours! It's time to work on my upping my mediation and relaxation skills!! Its that or getting some Valium. But Dan doesn't like that idea too much since the last time I had to take Valium I had to take such a high does for it to be effective that he had to carry me home and then I slept for 2 days!!! hahahahahaha. Not how I want to start off my vacation! So, I will just have to work on lower my panic level. And Dan is always so supportive, I can just hear him next to me know...."Oh no! were gonna crash!!!" hahahahha. or  "Is that mountain getting closer??"....or  "Why are we so close to the water??"  you see he finds my fear amusing. But I guess that is my payback for all those years as kids when I tortured him. LOL

I will just have to keep in mind what the outcome of the long and torturous plane ride is for, and that is too see my wonderful Sister across the sea Dawn, and to fulfill my parent dream (and mine of course) of going to Ireland. I am looking forward to spreading some of their ashes in places that hold special meaning.  The village of Cong, where the movie "The Quiet Man" was filmed. That was one of Mom and Dad's favorite movies. Maguires Bridge which is a village that my Great Great Great Grandfather on my Mothers side is from.  And then any other little lovely places we come across.

Well, do check back as i am sure I will post something again before we leave and of course I will be posting during our trip :-)

Blessed Be all.

Connemara National Park

Well we are finally down to just 90 days. Cant believe it! I think the next 90 days will go by pretty quickly. Just have to finish getting the last of the things on our list together before the trip and we are all set! So let me tell you about another place I have on the list of places to see. Connemara National Park from everything I have seen in photos is just gorgeous. And I am looking forward to seeing it in person. So let me get on to telling you about it.


Connemara National Park- County Galway

Situated in the West of Ireland in County Galway, Connemara National Park covers some 2,957 hectares ( 7306 acres) of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands. Some of the Park's mountains, namely Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght, are part of the famous Twelve Bens or Beanna Beola range. Connemara National Park was established and opened to the public in 1980.  Much of the present park lands were part of the Kylemore Abbey Estate and the Letterfrack Industrial School, the remainder having been owned by private individuals. Many remains of human presence can be seen in the Park. The oldest are megalithic court tombs some 4,000 years old.There is also an early 19th century graveyard about which little is known. Also of that period is Tobar Mweelin, a well which was tapped to supply water to Kylemore Castle around 1870 and is still in use today. Stretches of the old Galway road, in use over a century ago, may still be seen in the northern sections of the Park, but other stretches are obscured by vegetation. Ruined houses, a disused lime kiln, old sheep pens, an ice house, drainage systems and old walls in various parts of the Park, are all evidence of a greater population and more extensive use of these lands in the past.

Western blanket bog and heathland are the predominant vegetation types to be found in the Park. The boglands, situated in the lowlying areas, are normally very wet, while higher up the mountains, a drier community of mountain blanket bog develops. Heather covers the mountain sides, with ling, cross-leaved heath and bell heather all very common. Probably the most common and most abundant plant in the Park is purple moor grass, responsible for the colour of much of the landscape throughout the year.

  The birdlife of the Park is varied. The most common song birds would be Meadow pipits, skylarks, stonechats, chaffinches, robins and wrens. Birds of prey are sometimes seen, usually Kestrel, Merlin or a Peregrine Falcon. The largest mammal in the park is the famous Connemara Pony. Although a domestic animal this pony is very much part of the Connemara countryside.

I am really looking forward to taking a lovely long hike thru Connemara Park. I am sure I will have a million photos to share after our day there. Since nature shots are my favorite photos to take and I have no doubt that I will not be disappointed! Well I will have to start doing some research on what I want to share with you next.  I do hope that you enjoy reading the things that I write. Please do leave me a message, I sometimes wonder if anyone even reads these :-)

Bright blessings!

Charleville Castle

Charleville Castle is also at the top of the list of Most Haunted Castle of Ireland right along with Leap Castle. I am hoping to work it into our list of places to see while we are in Ireland. I mean coming from a paranormal investigator stand point it would be an really great to get a chance to check it out! So let me get on to giving you some of the history of Charleville Castle as well as some of the reported paranormal activity.

History of Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland

The Castle is situated in Ireland's most ancient primordial oak woodlands, once the haunting grounds of Ireland's druids thousands of years ago. The Castle grounds were once the site of an ancient burial ground inhabited by Druid Celtic priests in the 6th century.  The Oak was the Sacred tree of the Druids and in the grounds of the Castle is a Druids initiation Circle a constant reminder that this was a Sacred Ritual site. When the plague hit Ireland it was widespread during the middle ages, many of the local sick people were buried alive to prevent the sickness from spreading. Many believe that their spirits continue to haunt the Castle grounds.

 in 1577 1,700 acres of this land became a gift to the Moore family from Queen Elizabeth I. A member of the Moore family was raised to the Earldom of Charleville, but the title lapsed in 1764 due to the lack of heirs in the direct male line. The land, however was eventually inherited back by 6 month old infant Charles William Bury, born into the  Co. Limerick land-owning family, who was importantly, also a grand-nephew of the last Earl.

Charles William Bury was created Baron Tullamoore in 1797, and as a man of considerable wealth joined into building a Castle  by engaging the services of the renowned architect Francis Johnston in the planning of the Castle to be built near Tullamoore. The construction of Charleville Castle commenced in 1798 and it took the next 14 years to complete what many considered the finest Neo-Gothic Castle in all of Ireland. The wonderful craftsmanship involved being mainly due to the skill  the Irish people. Charles William Bury was raised to the restored Earldom of Charleville in 1806.

There are many rumors that Charles William Bury practiced devil worship and chose the site for the Castle because it reportedly lies on ancient electro magnetic ley lines, which would allow him to take advantage of the natural magnetic energies that are prevelant there. Two of the Earls of Charleville were Grandmasters in the Freemasons of Ireland. This is why the towers were designed with the 8 point star construction. Free masonry was a family tradition with the Burys. Could this have anything to do with the plethora of ghostly phenomenon reported at their family home? Who can say?

Ghosts of Charleville Castle

The most famous ghost of Charleville Castle is perhaps the most tragic, due to her tender age. In April of 1961, Harriet the youngest daughter of the 3rd Earl of Charleville, tragically died while playfully sliding down the banister of the grand staircase when she lost her balance and fell to her death on the cold stone floor below, She was just 8 years old. Her presence in the Castle has been reported many times by many different people. Many people have sensed movement of cold air when traversing the stairway. Others have seen a girl in a blue and white dress with golden curls and blue ribbons in her hair standing on the staircase.

There are two main areas in the Castle where the paranormal activity seems to be focused, the old dungeon and the library. The dungeon, a dark damp place, is said to be the haunting grounds of the entity of a sadist. over the centuries many prisoners are said to have died down there through torture, some of these torture devices are still present. Paranormal investigations that have taken place down there have often had to be cut short due t members having their faces scratched and in one case a cameraman was dragged halfway down a corridor.

Anyone that enters the Castle is asked by the owner not to go near the balcony that over looks the Library. As he has been told by a medium that there is an powerful "Elemental" (Elemental = is a spirit that by nature is chaotic and destructive, but is also clever and capable of reasoning. Not totally evil, but certainly not good). He advised the owner to never let anyone up there as this Element would not hesitate to do harm to someone. And that he should never to try and banish it, just to leave it be. Taking caution to heart, the owner has kept the balcony locked ever since.

Finally, the legend of Charleville Castle "King Oak". The "King Oak" is a huge ancient tree that had a special relationship to the Bury family. It was said that if one of the branches fell from the tree, a member of the family would pass away shortly. In 1963 the oak was hit by a devastating lightning strike. The tree managed to survive, but within a matter of days Colonel Charles Howard-Bury, the head of the Bury family and last of the family to own the castle, died unexpectedly.


Well there ya go my friends, that is the history of Charleville Castle. Sounds interesting doesn't it???  Again I tell ya I wish I could pack Dom, Carrie and Julie in my suitcases as I know how much they would love to go and investigate these places with me!! What fun we would have!

As of today we are down to 100 days!!!! almost double digits! So excited. Just cant get her fast enough I tell ya. Well until the next time my friends.

Blessed Be

Thetford Priory

Thetford Priory is a beautiful old ruin in Norfolk, I am not sure if it is on Dawn's list of places to see or not but I found it to be very interesting. There are so many beautiful places in Norwich I don't know how we are going to have time to see them all!!!! I am so excited about our adventures tho. But most importantly I am looking forward to seeing my soul sister and getting to spend time with her :-) I don't know how much blogging I will get done while I am with her but I will try and keep you all up on our wild and crazy adventures! Hope you enjoy reading about Thetford Priory!

Thetford is traditionally thought of as the royal residence of Boudica Queen of the Iceni. The Iceni were a Celtic tribe living in Norfolk and parts of Cambridgeshire. Archaeological evidence suggests that Thetford was an important tribal center during the late Iron Age and early Roman period. A ceremonial "grove" was uncovered there during excavation. In 1979 a hoard of Roman-British metalwork known as the "Thetford Treasure" was located just outside of Thetford. Dating from the Mid 4th century AD, this hoard is a collection of 33 inscribed spoons, 20 gold finger rings, 4 pendants, several necklaces and a 2" gold buckle depicting a dancing satyr.

The town of Thetfords importance as a religious center started when the East Anglian bishopric moved there in 1071. 22 medieval churches were located in Thetford during its heyday. It resulted in the building of 12 other religious houses. The Priory of Our Lady of Thetford was established by Roger Bigod. Roger Bigod was a friend of William the Conqueror and had accompanied him throughout the Norman invasion of 1066, but his community of Cluniac monks in a remote Norfolk village were a more peaceful affair altogether. It was Bigod, who by now was an old man who founded Thetford Priory and who laid the foundation stone of the new church in September 1107 before he died the following week.

12 Cluniac monks, who came from Lewes priory in Sussex staffed it. Originally it was located south of the River Thet and took in the church of St. Mary (once the diocese cathedral). In 1107 a site North of the river was chosen by Prior Stephen due to overcrowding. By this time 20 monks lived at the priory. In 1114 the new church was completed while construction of the other buildings and cloister continued throughout the 12 century.

A Lady Chapel was built in the early 13th century on the North side of the church. The legend surrounding the building of the chapel states that the Virgin Mary appeared to a local craftsman to say he would be cured of illness if he told the monks to build this chapel. Pilgrims wanting to be rid of their illnesses put the priory on their visitation list after the building of the chapel. The money they brought paid for a rebuilding of the priory church in the late 13th century.

The priory was dissolved in 1540 when the King Henry VIII's Commissioners took it from the prior and 16 monks. The site was robbed of much of its carved stone and flint. Today the priory site is in ruins. On the grounds can be seen the remains of the early 12th century church and its Nave, side aisles, the quire, the transepts, and the Lady Chapel. Parts of the cloister, domestic buildings, and chapter house are visible. To the Southeast are the ruins of the infirmary and two story priors lodgings. The gatehouse is Northwest on the grounds of Abbey House. It is faced with knapped flint. Also surviving as ruins is the priory of the Holy Sepulchre and the remains of a Dominican Friary on the grounds of Thetford school, and the Benedictine church of St. George's Nunnery south of Nunn's Bridges.


Well I hope you enjoyed today's history lesson. Until next time kiddies!!!

Planes, Trains, Buses, or taxi's??

Hello Friends!

Ok, so here we sit with 115 days to go and I am sure that to some of you that may sound like a long time and well yes it is relatively still a good amount of time. But for me, being the person who wants to have her travel plans run as smoothly as possible there are still alot of things that I still have yet to do. One of the things that I have been dealing with is how Dan and I are going to get from London to Norwich. You see when we booked our flight we wanted to take a flight that would be as direct a flight as possible. Alot of the flights that we looked at had long layovers and multiple stops. It would have taken us almost 2 days to reach Norwich. Sounds insane doesn't it? That is what we thought. I couldn't believe that we couldn't find a direct flight. So after searching the best we could find was a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to London. its a 9 hour flight and I am sure most of you think "oh that isn't that bad. Well lets see......first of all, I hate to fly and second I am claustrophobic. yeah so I am not exactly looking forward to spending 9 hours on a plane! However, the upside to all of this is that we leave at 6pm and don't arrive in London until 12:30 the next day (due to the time difference) so I am hoping that I can get my Doctor to give me something to make the trip bearable and maybe make me sleep. 

 Anyway, back to the story Dawn and her husband Daz live in Norwich (Duh you should have got that by now) which is about 4 hours from London. So Dan and I have been trying to figure out the fastest and cheapest way to get from London to Norwich. Holy Cow! who knew that would turn out to be such a mess. Trying to figure it out was complicated to say the least. Not only because of the currency difference but we have NO idea what train to take to get from the airport to get to Norwich  or what Bus to take. And let me tell you, its not like you can just jump on 1 train that takes you to your destination. Oh no that would be too easy!  Lets see the train,  you would have to take from the airport ( oh and that is depending on what terminal you arrive in since apparently Heathrow is a HUGE airport I am guessing it makes LAX look like some airport in some little hicktown!) then it goes into London, then you change trains once or twice, then it finally takes you to Norwich but its a 3 hour trip. Oh and by bus, well at least by bus you can catch it directly from the airport but its a 4-5 hour bus ride. And the cost...yikes yeah it was pretty steep. However, Dawn and Daz came to our rescue!!!  They will be picking us up from the airport in London and then the 4 of us will be driving back to Norwich.

This makes me so happy. As I was a bit sad at the thought of not seeing her face when we walked off the plane. Since that was one of the things that I had pictured in my mind when I had thought about my seeing her for the first time. So now I am happy at knowing that she will be there when I walk off that plane. She will be a sight for sore eyes!! I am sure there will lots of tears,laughter and hugs! And I have already told Dan that he will need to video the entire thing! And I am sure that Daz will be recording it from their end too!  I am so excited about all the things that we will be doing and seeing while we are with them, but most of all I am just excited about having the chance to sit and talk with her look in her eyes, hold her hand and just be able to talk to her face to face. She is my soul sister we have been on this earth many times before she and I, in many different places in many different bodies. But I think we have always managed to find our way back to each other one way or another. there is something that we still have yet to learn from each other and until that has been accomplished our lives on this earth will not be complete.

Ok well enough for today my friends...until the next time. Be well and Blessed Be.

Weeting Castle

Weeting Castle is in South Norfolk and it is actually not a castle but more of a Manor house. And it is one of the places that Dawn and her husband Darryl (or Daz which is his nickname) will be taking Dan and I. I am really looking forward to visiting Weeting Castle not only for the historical aspect but also for the paranormal. It is said to be quite haunted. I only wish that I could pack Carrie and Dom in my suitcase and take them along with me!! As I am sure they would love to investigate it just as much as I will. But maybe I will get lucky and get some good evidence to bring back for them!

So lets get down to some history on Weeting Castle-

In the 1130's Hugh De Plais, a tenant of William De Warenne, Earl of Surrey, started the construction of his family home. It was a good time to be building in Norfolk. Warenne's own state-of-the-art construction at Castle Acre was well underway in these years, as was the magnificent Castle Rising, built by the powerful D'Albinis on the North-West coast of the County near Lynn. Over in Suffolk Hugh Bigod was rebuilding his family's castle at Framlingham of stone. Weeting was a less grand affair, but it presents us with a rare surviving example of a 12th century Manor house. Weeting Castle is an example of how the lesser gentry lived as opposed to the great magnates of state, the tenants in chief of the King. By the mid-12th century the Norman elite who had conquered along with King William were well established in England.  They were stamping their authority and growing wealth with series of grand buildings.

Recent excavations have unearthed evidence of a Saxon settlement dating from at least the 10th century. Ditches, burnt daub, post-holes and pottery and a coin have been dated from this era. This should not come as a surprise, the area had been a hive of industry since prehistoric times, with the mysterious Grimes Graves flint mines having been worked since at least 3,000 BC. Norfolk was a well settled county before the Normans came, with Great East Anglian landowners like Archbishop of Canterbury Stigand owning many Manors. The new feudal owners often just demolished what was there already and built on top of it. Weeting is listed in the Domesday Book, spelt Wetynge meaning "wet fields".

What was the house like?  Made of mortared flint rubble with stone dressings, it was originally designed as a free-standing, two story building with a lesser hall and chamber above. Its design was copied essentially  from Warennes Castle Acre. Later in the 1100's the halls were combined to create a more impressive aisled hall open to a timbered roof.  The hall was the most important room, hosting guests and the scene for important events. Each side of the hall supported benches with a dais and tables at the far end. Next to the hall was a service area, complete with pantry and buttery. On the other side of the open courtyard a free standing kitchen was later built for preparing animal and other food items. This no doubt smelly and messy part of the house was hidden from view by a wall, so genteel visitors crossing the moat to come into the hall wouldn't have to see it.

Historians think the moat, added in the 13th century was less a defensive device than it was an ornamental status symbol. The De Plais family were living the good life in this part of Norfolk and they wanted friends and neighbors to think well of them by displaying their wealth. The moat, which survives today but is now dry, is about 6ft deep and up to 30 ft wide. The family had their own private chamber beyond the hall. Divided into three story's, with a central fireplace it had its own latrine block which was the last word in the luxury hygiene of its day, three cubicles drained into the room at ground level. They were cleaned through a small door near the moat.

During the late 14th century the house came into the possession of the Howard family. This ambitious clan eventually captured the title of Dukes of Norfolk, coming to national prominence during the rule of Henry VIII. With great many properties making up their portfolio. Weeting had low priority and was abandoned by about 1390. In time it was incorporated into the grounds of the now demolished Weeting Hall, and became an ornamental, romantic ruin for the owners to show off. A domed ice house was built during the later 18th century. These buildings were used to store ice throughout the year.

Well my friends there you have it, that is the history on Weeting Castle. I hope you enjoyed it and found it to be as interesting as I have.

Until next time......

Apes and Ashes oh my........

Well I am sure that title has you scratching your head a bit.  So let me explain.  If you have been following my blog from the beginning you know that one of the main reasons for Dan and I taking this trip is to pay tribute to my parents and to make their wish of going to Ireland come true (even if it is not in their physical body).  Originally I was just going to sneak some of their ashes in my makeup bag, but I had a friend/co-worker bring up a good point to which I hadn't really thought about. And that is what are they gonna say when they x-ray my luggage and see bits of bone? So I decided if I am gonna do this Mom and Dad would want me to do this the proper way. So I went thru the proper channels and got the paperwork needed to transport their ashes with us to Ireland.  So Mom and Dad now have all their legal documents and are ready for travel!  I know that they will be with us on our journey as we leave a little of them in each of the beautiful places we visit in their honor.  I will be sure to add pictures of each of the places as we go to share with you all.

And now to explain the Apes..........

Dawn had asked if there was anything in particular that Dan and/or I wanted to do while we are in Norwich.  For me its all about seeing the ancient ruins, haunted locations, and just the history of where they live. But Dan........yeah well leave it to my husband to have to go and find the one thing that would be the last thing I would choose to do!!!!  Now if you know me you know that I am claustrophobic and afraid of heights. So, with that said.....yep you guessed it! My adoring husband has to go and pick the one activity that involves Heights!!!!  It is a park called "Go Ape" and it is full of zip lines thru the trees, rope ladders, and swings etc.

After I went to the website and watch just the short opening video my heart was racing, my hands were shaking and I looked and him and simply said " Are you F*&king Crazy?!?!?! I am NOT doing that!!!!!! You must me out of your ever loving mind if you think your getting me to do that!!! "   But of course I love my husband and this is something he really wants to do, that and I cant resist that look that he gives me when he really wants something.  So, I am going to TRY and do this. I told him I am not making any promises I may chicken out. Dawn and her husband Daryl will be going with us but they will be going as spectator as Dawn is like me and scared of heights. So they will be on the ground taking pictures and video. So I am sure there will  be pictures and maybe video to post of me screaming! But, I have a back up plan........if I chicken out (which is very likely!) Daryl can take my place!!! LOL Since he is crazy like my husband I figure the two boys can go have some play time!  They would be like a couple of 6 year old!   But I am going to do my best to suck it up and do this because I know Dan really wants me to do it with him and he is always such a trooper doing things I want to do, So it time for me to return the favor, despite my fear.  Isn't that what love is about? Doing things you wouldn't normally do, or things that frighten you? But having faith in the person you love know they would never let anything hurt you.  I have 134 days to work up the courage!!!!   If you want to check out the Go Ape website to see what its all about go to http://www.goape.co.uk/

Well my friends until next time.....Blessed Be.

Irish Blessings and sayings

So today I thought I would go off my usual protocol of giving you information on places we will be seeing or want to see. I thought today I would just share with you some good ole fashion Irish blessings, proverbs and sayings. The Irish definitely have a way with words! I hope you enjoy these!

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you

(This one has always been my favorite)

Now sweetly lies old Ireland
Emerald green beyond the foam,
Awakening sweet memories,
Calling the heart back home

May your heart be warm and happy
With the lilt of Irish laughter
Every day in every way
And forever and ever after.

Ireland is where strange tales begin
and happy endings are possible.

The Legend of Ireland's Magic Harp  In the misty hills of Ireland
A long, long time ago,
There lived a lovely Irish lass
Who loved her father so. One day he went to fetch some wood,
But he did not soon return,
And so his loving daughter's heart
Was filled with great concern. She searched for him throughout the day,
And when a fog came in
She wept, for she was fearful
They would never meet again. Then suddenly, a little band
Of leprechauns came by.
They all were very saddened.
To hear the lovely maiden cry. They asked if they might have a lock
Of her long and golden hair,
Then tied the silken strands across
A crooked limb with care. 'Twas a magic harp they'd made,
And when the maiden touched each strand,
The music led her father home
Across the misty land. And to this day the harp remains
A cherished symbol of
The blessings of the hearth and home
The Irish dearly love.

Bless you and yours
As well as the cottage you live in.
May the roof overhead be well thatched

May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.
And those inside be well matched.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

I hope that you have enjoyed some of these great little diddies as My father would say. Until the next time!

C'ead Mile Failte (Gaelic for "A hundred thousand welcomes")