Youth Hostel trip Leominster 2007
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Following on from the enormous success of last year's "trip" residents and carers
from Glasallt Fawr ventured forth, yet again, to Leominster. Our setting and home
from home was "The Old Priory", a self-catering youth hostel, a building steeped
in history, complete with an inner courtyard and its own herb garden. The house is
managed by a dedicated team of staff who welcomed us warmly and whose thoughts on
environmental issues are integrated into their approach e.g. towards energy conservation
and recycling.

From this base our group set out to explore the varied attractions around Leominster.
Tim and Hannah, already part of last year's troupe, were almost instrumental in this
year's event - due to their insistence to go on yet another journey and to share the
experience with their new house members, Fiona and Victoria. As members of the
support team Hannah D., Clive and Birgit completed the gaggle of explorers.

We could not have picked luckier dates (16.-20.04.07) - 5 days of wall-to-wall sunshine,
the orchards of apple trees in full bloom, fields of rape in full flower, trees and
hedges starting to show their various shades of spring-time green.

Arriving at the Youth Hostel we kicked off with a tea break in the inner courtyard and,
much refreshed, walked into town to purchase the ingredients for supper - sweet -and-sour
chicken professionally and deliciously prepared by Clive and both our "Hannahs".

Tuesday kicked off with a visit to a local park with playground, much favoured by Victoria
and Tim, where we enjoyed the fresh air as much as the pick nick we had prepared in the
Hostel. The whole of the afternoon was spent in the park of Hampton Court, a magnificent
stately home renowned for its mature grounds and its variety of gardens. Most impressive:
the sunken garden with its water features, little streams and stepping stones - what a
challenge for everyone's sense of balance ... And, the pièce de resistance - a waterfall
with a path leading us right behind the curtain of gushing water. With some trepidation Fiona
overcame her initial reservations and - after joining hands with us - accepted the challenge!
Having gotten right royally lost in the Victorian maze we recuperated over an ice-cream in
the Castle's Cafe, looking over the parkland and surrounding landscape. An evening in our
"local" next to the Youth Hostel rounded off this wonderful day.

A guided tour through Leominster, expertly explaining the many historical buildings and
sites, proved to be Victoria's favourite and Fiona was much intrigued and took down "notes"
of what we saw. After a Café lunch in Leominster we re-visited our favourite playground before
preparing supper back in the Youth Hostel. The evening ended in the pub - this time for a
round of pool and a dance.

Having said our goodbyes to our hosts at the Hostel we broke your journey home with a stop
in Eardisland, one of the most picturesque villages so typical for this part of the country:
Half-timbered houses in varying degrees of crookedness, all of them immaculately kept and
a pleasure to see. A cream tea in the most idyllic garden of a small café was most restorative
for the remaining journey home.

All in all five most pleasant days, spent in harmony and good company, filled with sights and
impressions of days gone by. Culinary highlights jostling for position with lively conversations
and the enjoyment of hours in the spring sunshine spent exploring new sights.

An experience which - in the firm opinion of all taking part - should be repeated very soon!