We left Birmingham by train yesterday (11/7) headed for Worcester Shrub Hill where we to be picked up by our hostess we will be house sitting for for the next 13 days. The first half of the trip took us through a very industrial landscape which changed to lush green countryside with places with names we think sound very funny like Stourbridge, Kiddminster and Droitwich Spa.

By the time we got to our station we were the only people on the train plus a railway staff member who explained the reason we were delayed coming into the station was that the Queen was due to leave shortly. We could see her beautiful black train carriages, about 20 in total and tried to get a few shots of ourselves against this view.

When we arrived at the station we were escorted across the platform and found ourselves with a few officials waiting for the Queen to come, so we decided to wait as well. Eventually the beautiful steam engine, The Princess Elizabeth, that leads her train came whizzing past us and the carriages pulled up behind it. The police were fantastic. Very politely asking the people to step back a little please. I spoke to the policeman later and said how impressed Michael and I were at how polite they treated the crowd. Michael wondered how different this might have been in the US or even Australia!

There were not a lot of people we thought, but this was not an official occasion, she was just leaving the place after some big events to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. The photos are disappointing except for the one I have borrowed from the local newspaper. But Michael did catch one of me as the train was departing with Prince Phillip in the background just pulling the window back up after waving to everyone on departure.

Included in these photos is one of the view from our bedroom window. Everything is so green. Our second day started off sunny, but by the afternoon it looked very threatening and the forecast is for rain, rain, rain.

We had a nice tour of the town today with our hostess. The town is very well equipped with all you need, plus there are markets 3 times per week in the square. Our hostess leaves us tomorrow for 12 days now only with one dog to look after. She is taking the others with her to the shows.

We need to find some walking paths into the town. It looked further than a mile but the promise of a local cider and a local ale will be too difficult for both of us to resist.