Living Vicariously: Traveling Through Great Britain - Stories, Conversations, a Guide, Bits & Bobs

By Terry L. Harris

Living Vicariously – experiencing someone else’s stories, adventures or tales through conversations, reading, listening or photos and videos. This is the first in the series of Living Vicariously.
Each new book will tell of other people’s stories. In this series, take you along on my travels through Great Britain.
Follow me as I tell Stories of events that I happen upon, Conversations with people along the way, Bits of history of the towns I visit and various Bobs of information to help Guide you along. The train has left the station, so let’s see where it takes us. Full of color photos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329536562

Book preview

Living Vicariously

Travels through Great Britain Conversations, Stories, a Guide, Bits & Bobs

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or author.    

Living Vicariously Series LV1 © 2015 by Terry L Harris

All Rights Reserved ISBN 978-1-329-53656-2

First Edition

www.tlharris.biz

Also by Terry L. Harris

Books

The Fixer

Living Vicariously: Travels through Great Britain

Conversations, Stories, a Guide, Bits & Bobs

(black and white photos)

E-Books

The Fixer

(additional chapter)

http://www.tlharris.biz

Dedication

My dad, Air Force SSGT Julious C. Harris died a few years ago and did not see this book come to life. I thank him for his twenty years of service. It afforded me to live and experience different places growing up. He was a mentor and a man of much wisdom. I thank him for everything he passed on to me.

I want to thank my mom, Ann V. Doggett for remaining true to her English heritage and giving me mine. It gave me the yearning to visit my family in England every few years and eventually living there experiencing the life style and the country for myself.

I would like to thank my brother Steven C. Harris, unbeknownst to him, for being a friend and having the same wisdom and common sense passed down to both of us.

A special thanks to the new friendships and renewed old friendships I encountered along this journey.

One last thanks to the family in Healing-Grimsby for hosting me those few months, Kim, Jade, Sophie and Sarah.

Living Vicariously

Travels through Great Britain Conversations, Stories, a Guide,

Bits & Bobs

LV-1

Terry L. Harris

Prologue

This is the first in a series of Living Vicariously. Having traveled extensively through Britain, the travels will be broken into a series of books starting with LV1. You have a chance to listen in on conversations, gain some helpful travel tips along with experiencing and obtaining a sense of some of the wonderful towns I explored in my adventures to and through them. Hopefully you will experience an Ah-ha, Wow or Interesting moment as you read from one chapter to the next. I know I felt those moments as I was living them.

These will make a great travel reads. Easy to throw in your bag or bring up on your tablet to read while waiting for your transportation to arrive. A great short read at lunch or to kill time anywhere. Read a chapter without having to link it to the next chapter. It is also a great a reference guide, giving tips on travel, towns, London and its activities plus handy maps which can be referred to during the reading.

If while reading, you feel some type of emotion, gain some insightful information or some wisdom through another’s conversations, photos, stories, information or experiences that is a form of Living Vicariously. In the simplest of terms Living Vicariously is what we each do during our daily lives. The words Living Vicariously can come in many forms of thought and definitions. There are numerous definitions from books and online. These are just a few of them.

Felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others.

Obtained or undergone at second hand through sympathetic participation in another's experiences.

Taking the place of another.

A voyeur lives inside all of us.

Taking the place of another person or thing; acting or serving as a substitute.

Experienced imaginatively through another person or agency.

You watch them in their life and enjoy their excitement.

To treat someone else’s experiences as if they were your own.

It is to consider their successes your successes and their defeats your defeats.

To experience secondhand.

Felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another

Acting or serving in place of someone or something else

The answers may vary but the main outcome is the same. Your grandparents have told you stories of when they were growing up, of how things were different from today. Coworkers have told, with exciting details, of going to a new restaurant. They mention how good the food and service was along with that delicious dessert they enjoyed. Friends have pulled out photos of their children, grandkids, travels or some event. A buddy goes to a ballgame and tells you about the atmosphere, the wild hot dog throwing man and catching a foul ball.

All of these various people have brought forth their experiences, endeavors, mishaps or guidance to share with you. By listening, looking, feeling they have stirred some sort of emotion in you. Some of your thoughts may range from,

Wow, I want to do or try that.

I am glad I learned something.

I feel happy or sad for them.

That was exciting to listen to.

They sure have interesting adventures. I am glad they shared but I couldn’t do that.

That was fascinating to read, listen to, or watch. Maybe I need to contact my travel agent, grandparents, friends or whomever

With each book touching on different topics, hopefully you find a one topic in the Living Vicariously series, entertaining, interesting, informative and just plain fun. Collect one or each one in the series. If there is a topic you would like are interested in Living Vicariously through leave a message on the website, http://www.tlharris.biz and you might read about it in future books.

Each of us can keep a log, making a list of items that we seem to live vicariously through. Write down a new or different account you saw, heard, witnessed, learned or observed. Add different things, events, conversations or people that you come across. Write down what you remember, put in photos and then read through the log in a year. It might have seemed trivial at the time but reading it at a later moment may give you an Ah-Ha moment."

I had an Ah-Ha moment but did not realize it until much later. When traveling and sleeping in different locations, the pillows were not always comfortable. In October one of the shops was having a sale on bed pillows, so I bought one for £4 ($6).

Traveling to various towns, villages or cities whether to stay or visit I started writing the name of the town on the pillow case. I wrote the names in the approximate location as to where I thought they might be in the U.K. As I rode the trains and buses I carried my pillow on the outside of my bag. It became a conversation piece.

Towards the end of the travels someone asked if I had been to ALL those towns. I said yes, looking at the pillow. I stared at it for a while, for the first time actually, looking at the pillow. That is when I had an Ah-ha moment. I thought and smiled to myself - Wow, I have actually visited all these places and have a story for each one.  You just never know when it might happen. Ah-ha.

If on your travels you come across any of the people within this book maybe they will sign your book, and have a photo taken together.

Chapters

Chapter 1 – United Kingdom

Current Monarchy

The Royal Family – The House of Windsor

The Line of Succession

Full Names of the Royal Family Members

National Bank Holidays

The Common Wealth’s of the United Kingdom

Chapter 2 – General Guide and Tips in a Nutshell

The Countries that make up the United Kingdom

The People

Sports

Basics: Money / Weather / Time-Date

Shopping

Food

Photography

Miscellaneous

Suggestions

Chapter 3 –London - Getting to know it

A Brief History

General Information

Transportation

Phone Booths

Chapter 4 –London Attractions

Free Attractions

Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower

*Fees of Popular London Attractions*

Popular Sites / Places to Explore

Bond Street and Shopping

Buckingham Palace and Downing Street

London Bridge verses Tower Bridge

London Eye

M&M Store

Piccadilly Circus 

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Theatres

Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column

The Stories

Chapter 5 - The Little Engine That Couldn’t

Chapter 6 –Grimsby and the surrounding towns

Getting around Grimsby

A Day down to the docks

Fishing and Heritage Museum

Cleethorpes and the Seaside

Last weeks in Grimsby

Chapter 7 – Spending the day in York

Checking the travel shops – York?

Humber Bridge

A Day Trip to York

Chapter 8 – Cambridge – Grantchester

Christmas Eve – Boxing Day

Christmas Eve with my Uncle in Cambridge

Christmas Day at the Hostel

December 26th – Boxing Day – A Beer Barrel Rolling

Rupert Brooke’s ‘The Old Vicarage, Grantchester’ Poem

Chapter 9 – New Year’s in Brussels, Belgium

Getting to London for New Year’s Eve and Day

Getting Out of London – A change of plans

December 30th – Getting to Dover and Brussels

December 31st – New Year’s Eve –day & Eve

New Year’s Day – Sunday, January 2012 – Off to Bruges

New Year’s Night – Back to Brussels for Dinner

Monday January 2, 2012 – Heading back to Dover

Chapter 10 - January Friday 13th - A walk along the cliffs

Finding where England falls off into the waters

What to do on Friday 13th – Rock Climbing?

And the Journey Begins

Reaching Lands’ End

Chapter 11 - Turning the BIG 50 with a trip to Scotland

Arriving at my pick up point – Cardiff, Wales

The birthday excursion to Scotland

The First Day of Outings

My Birthday – February 8 & Night Time Celebration

The Trip continues – February 9

The Last Day and on the road back – February 10

Chapter 12 - A Piece of Heaven - Newquay in Cornwall

Finding Newquay?

Arriving in Newquay

The first day

A guided tour from a lovely local

Another Day in Paradise

Evolution of becoming a local

First Surf Lesson

Going to the Dentist and saying good-bye

Chapter 13 – Pubs

Intro to Pubs and Sign Painter Arthur John Hardy

Pub History

Pub Sign Painter -Arthur John Hardy

Finding Hidden Family History

Arthur John Hardy’s work

Pubs and their allure

Pub Names

UK Pubs verses US Bars – Alcohol Laws and closing times

Legal Age / Food / and the Unexpected

Entertainment

Chapter 14 - If These Boots Could Talk

(Leftie and Righty’s stories begin . . .)

Newquay

Scotland

Cambridge and Grantchester

Brussels

Land’s End

London

Stairs and Red Phone Booths

Miscellaneous

Trains and Train Stations

Chapter 15 - Useful Words / Slang and Phrases

Places / Areas (you might need to ask for or about)

Food

General

Body Parts and Clothing

Objects

Sarcasm / Slang

Phrases

Chapter 16 - Websites to keep Handy

Transportation

London

Discount Locations for London Attractions

A small sampling of Tour Companies

Lodging

Information sites for various cities and their Museums,

Pubs, Restaurants etc.

Finding out the History

Miscellaneous sites: Alcohol Laws & Government

Chapter 17 - Maps

Airports

Boroughs of London

Brussels Attractions

Brussels Town Centre

Cambridge Location

Cambridge Town Centre

Cornwall

Cornwall and its bodies of water

Cornwall Beaches

Dover, UK to Brussels, Belgium

Edinburgh Location

Edinburgh Town Centre

Great Britain

Grimsby Location

London Location

London Attractions

London Theatres and Streets

London Tube Locations & Underground Tubes

Newquay Town Centre

Scotland and North Scotland

United Kingdom

York Town Centre

York Attractions

Index

Map Index

Photo Index

Chapter One

United Kingdom

Current Monarchy:

The head of the Monarch of the United Kingdom and Commonwealths is

Queen Elizabeth II.

Her Majesty – Queen Elizabeth II became Queen February 6, 1952, upon the death of her father – King George VI. She was visiting Kenya with her husband when her father died. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place June, 1953.

She is the second longest reigning monarch of England. Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne sixty-two years. Her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria was on the throne sixty-three years. Queen Elizabeth will pass Queen Victoria’s longevity on the throne in September 2015

The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on April 21, 1926. She celebrates her birthday twice. A quiet celebration on her birthday and a birthday celebrated with the people of the UK on the first or second Saturday of June with the Trooping of the Colours. The birthday celebrations moved to a summer month for better weather conditions by King Edward VII.

Until 1917, the family name was Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. With World War II having ended, bad sentiment existed towards the Germans. King George V changed the family surname to Windsor.

The name was taken from the castle of the same name. The royal family is known as the house of Windsor. Queen Elizabeth changed the law so only the direct descendants to the throne use the name Windsor. All other family members were to use her husband’s name along with the royal name - Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Royal Family – The House of Windsor

Queen Elizabeth married Phillip Mountbatten when she was 21. Phillip Mountbatten was a prince of Denmark and Greece. He enlisted in the Royal Navy and was moving up the ranks when he met Princess Elizabeth.

Duke of Edinburgh –

Prince Phillip Mountbatten

Princess Elizabeth and Phillip Mountbatten were married in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. Upon being married King George VI bestowed several titles on Philip – His Royal Highness, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich. On his 90th birthday in 2011, Queen Elizabeth gave him the title of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip had two children prior to Elizabeth becoming Queen – Prince Charles (1948) and Princess Anne (1950). After taking the thrown Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip had two more children – Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964).

Prince Charles             Princess Anne             Prince Andrew       Prince Edward Prince of Wales           Princess Royal             Duke of York          Earl of Wessex

Three of the four Queen’s children have been divorced.

Prince Charles married Diana Spencer July 29 1981. They divorced August 20, 1996. Prince Charles wed Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall April 9, 2005.

Princess Anne married Mark Philips November 14, 1973 and divorced April 28, 1992. She remarried December 12, 1992 to Timothy Laurence.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were married July 23, 1986 with a divorce that followed May 30, 1996. Neither remarried. Prince Andrew and Sarah Duchess of York remain close.

Prince Edward and Sophie Countess of Wessex wed July 19, 1999.

Current Spouses of the Princes and Princesses:

Camilla- Duchess      Timothy Laurence      Sarah- Duchess      Sophie- Countess

of Cornwall                                                     of York                    of Wessex

The Princes and Princesses all have two children with their first spouses.

Prince Charles &                                                          Princess Anne

Princess Diana’s children                                           & Mark Philips children

Prince                     Prince                        Peter                       Zara

William                     Harry                       Phillips                   Phillips

Prince Andrew &                                    Prince Edward & Sophie –

Sarah-Duchess of York’s children                        Countess of Essex children

Princess                    Princess                  Lady Louise                   James,

Beatrice                   Eugenie                      Windsor               Viscount Severn

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip have four great-grand-children, two from grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn – Savannah Ann Kathleen Phillips and Isla Elizabeth Phillips. Grandson, Prince William and Princess Katherine have two children, Prince George Alexander Louis and Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Line of Succession

The line of succession of the Royal family flows from the King or Queens down to their children. The spouse cannot become King or Queen of the UK. The oldest son is next in line to take the throne followed by the children of the eldest son. . From there the line of succession goes to the King or Queen’s next the eldest sons and then their daughters.

King George VI had no sons so his eldest daughter Queen Elizabeth took the throne. If the eldest child does not have children the next in line would be the next oldest sibling. If upon Queen Elizabeth having no children, her sister Margaret would have been in line for the throne followed by her children. In 2011 parliament changed the 300 year old law to allow the eldest child born to the King or Queen, no matter the gender, next in line.

First in line                      Second                       Fifth                            Sixth

Queen’s son            Charles’ son               Charles’ Son                Queen’s son

Prince Charles        Prince William           Prince Harry               Prince Andrew

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge was born July22, 2013, during the writing of this book. He is the son of Prince William and is now third in line for the United Kingdom throne. Prince William’s daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, born May 2, 2015, making her forth in line to the throne.

Full Names – Titles - Number in Line of Succession

Queen Elizabeth II - Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Mountbatten-Windsor - Head of the Monarch of the United Kingdom and Commonwealths

Prince Philip Mountbatten – (Queen’s Husband) - Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor – (Queen’s oldest son) - Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Wales, Scottish Peerage, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick and Baron Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. (1)

Camilla Rosemary Shand Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince Charles’ wife) - Duchess of Cornwall

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor (Prince Charles’ first son) – Duke of Cambridge (2) Prince George Alexander Louis (Prince Williams’ son) (3) Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (Prince Williams’ daughter)

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince William’s wife) - Duchess of Cambridge

Prince Harry – (Prince Charles’ second son) - Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor (5)

Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor – (Queen’s second son) - The Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh. (6)

Sarah Margaret Ferguson Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince Andrews’ ex-wife) - Duchess of York

Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince Andrews’ first daughter) - Princess Beatrice of York (7)

Eugenie Victoria Helena Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince Andrew’s second daughter) - Princess Eugenie of York (8)

Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis Mountbatten-Windsor – (Queens’ third son) - The Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn (9)

Sophie Rhys-Jones Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince Edwards’ wife) - Countess of Wessex

Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor – (Prince Edwards’ daughter) - Lady Louise of Windsor (10)

James Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor- (Prince Edwards’s son) - James, Viscount Severn (11)

Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Mountbatten-Windsor – Laurence - (Queens’ daughter) - - Princess Royal (12)

Timothy James Hamilton Laurence (Princess Anne’s husband)

Peter Mark Andrew Phillips – (Princess Anne’s son) (13)

Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips-Tindall (Princess Anne’s daughter) (14)

National / Bank Holidays:

New Year's Day – This is the typical January 1 or the Monday immediately following January 1

Good Friday – A floating day which usually occurs in March or April

Easter Monday – A floating day which usually occurs in March or April

May Bank Holiday- It is the First Monday in May.

Spring Bank Holiday –It is the last Monday in May. In the United States it is known as Memorial Day.

Summer Bank Holiday –This falls on the last Monday in August. It is known as Labor Day in the United States – the first Monday in September.

Christmas Day- Or it is the Monday immediately following if Christmas falls on a weekend.

Boxing Day -The day after Christmas, or the Monday following if 26 December falls on a weekend. Traditionally this was a day to box up leftover food, or other gifts and give to those less fortunate then yourself.

As with most other countries, the UK likes to take advantage of long holiday weekends. As with most holidays, Bank Holidays do not fall on the same dates from one year to the next.

If both December 25 and 26 fall