The Eaton Diary of London    2001  

Thursday, December 20, 2001

Margie's description of our day in Guildford.

Grant needed to get his time sheet signed so had to go to Camberley, a nice town SW of London, and we continued on to Guildford, a 17th century town with earlier origins. William (1066) built a castle in 1100, the remains of which and the 'Castle Keep', in fair condition still stand (Amazing!) in the castle grounds which are a beautifully maintained garden. Two gardeners were hoeing weeds in the formal beds while we were there. It was a freezing cold day, but blue sky and sunshine. We walked along the river - willows, ducks and swans, beautifully curved bridges, canal with lock and barges, mostly timber gates and ivy, cobbed streets, ancient buildings, lamps, and laneways. Delightful - all reminiscent of coach and horse days. We enjoyed a fine art gallery. Had lunch at a Theatre restaurant, overlooking the river. Gordan Kaye of "'Alo 'Alo" fame was also lunching there, along with some of the dwarfs, other cast, crew, and audience for the afternoon matinee of "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs"

S

Having wrestled with my conscience all year over the disposal of apple cores, (see link) today at Guildford my mind was put at ease. It seems I'm not the only one who has searched suitable receptacles for apple cores. By the bridge over the River Wey, just at the foot of the High Street, we found this apple tree with three or so apples holding on tenaciously to the wintry branches. The amazing thing was that it was growing in a pylon in the river. Someone had been a pretty mean short with their apply core, and an apple tree was born.