Stourport - Days 1 - 2
Monday, 4th December, 1989
Mac's Parents at home in Stourport
e arrived at Stourport-on-Severn, kindly picked up at Kidderminster station by a friend of Mac's father. He drove us to Hazeldene where we met Mac's parents. They are both very frail, it seems that mum had been in bed for some time before our arrival but she was determined to be up and dressed for us and she was. Mac's father smokes all the time, no wonder he has a heart condition. He is also just out of hospital, as we knew before we left. He seems remarkably fit for someone described by Olwen as at death's door, although by the loose fit of his clothes he appears to have lost quite a bit of weight. After lunch and getting acquainted chat we drove to the Caravan Park. The van is VERY good! Heated by gas, very cosy, full size gas stove, frig., sink with hot and cold running water. Separate bathroom with shower, full size basin and toilet. Two little bedrooms - one double, one twin, lots of blankets, lovely spacious lounge dining room with colour TV and lots of storage. Great for ninety pounds a week! The parents and friends had stocked it up with a certain amount of food, so we didn't have to go shopping urgently. Therefore we spent the rest of the day exploring Stourport and settling in. It is quite a picturesque town, as the name implies it is on the bank, (rather too close as it happened) of the Severn River and also on the Stour and the canal which has a vast system of locks and pools. In summer there is a fun fair and lots of recreational activities, in winter it is pretty dead, but we are not into summer sports and fun fairs, really.
Tuesday, 5th December, 1989
The Severn River from Stourport Bridge
e spent the morning at the Supermarket (t'Co-Op) getting in supplies. It sells literally everything from electrical appliances to whiskey and cider to toothpicks. Meat and fruit and veg plus a large deli and freezer section. Prices vary from much cheaper than at home to much dearer, especially for meat.
e visited the Mac's again, then had lunch and drove to Bewdley to recapture some of Mac's past. Mac and his father built a weekender at Bewdley when he was a schoolboy and he was dying to see it again. Bewdley is a beautiful little Georgian town with Tudor features. Half timbered cottages and shops with bow windows. It looks like a Christmas card, especially decorated for Christmas. Typically Olde Englishe. We turned a corner and Mac said "There used to be a sweet shop here", lo and behold ! A sweet shop, old fashioned windows and huge jars of lollies. Geoff bought me a quarter of caramel fudge with chocolate on the outside. Lovely! Bewdley is right on the banks of the Severn River - I was to discover many, many towns like this, the Severn is the longest river in England - and Mac was quietly ecstatic about the lack of change. It was beautiful even in the first rain we've had, fine misty rain, not enough for umbrellas.
The Severn River at Bewdley
Home again so we could go to the laundrette and get some clothes clean.
Tomorrow Stratford-on-Avon !!!
