The Rest of the Story

So now you know that I went to The Hague this past week. I found out that I was going on Wednesday afternoon, and flew out on Thursday morning at 6:15 am. I have to say that I was actually more impressed by The Hague than I was by Amsterdam, or at least what little I saw of both cities led me to like The Hague better. As should be expected, it was a work trip, so there's really not much to tell - I flew in, I worked, I wandered the city for a few hours that evening, I slept, worked some more, and flew back out.

I guess there's not much more to tell about the week - kids went to school, Mich met the guy for packing our stuff, but not too much exciting.

Today, we did get an offer from one of our neighbours to go and visit a local monthly farmer's market (Shabden Farmer's Market) and to see the Chaldon mural (you won't find it in any guidebooks, but it's a mural in a local church that dates back to probably around 1200 or so). Mich and I agreed that one of the things that we will miss is the little country markets when we get back - I have really enjoyed the fact that England is not yet as commercialised as the States. So we wandered about, bought some bread, some wine from the Iron Railway Vineyard (in Merstham, no less), and various other sundries. The kids petted sheep, pigs, cows and the sheep dogs, and we got to talk to the farmer who puts on the whole thing. We then were free to wander the farm and go to the fields where he keeps his sheep and cattle.

And so, at this point, I can't help myself - I have to say that I really wish that people supported the local farmers and shops more. Americans have largely lost this - and we've lost the specialisation that goes with it, the personal touch, the butcher who knows the cuts of beef, how to cut them, and how to cook them, the farmer who brings the fresh produce directly to market and can tell you a million ways to prepare them. England is going that way, as the WalMart equivalent threatens to run the local shopowners and farmers out of business. So, my plea is simply this: if you have something similar, and you like it, please support it. Whether it be the Shabden Market, or just a local dairy, every person counts, and the quality of what you get will be the difference. I don't normally get too excited about these things, but just have to say something.

So, stepping back off the soapbox - we had a good time, but unfortunately, we didn't bring the camera, so mobile phone pictures will have to suffice. Afterwards, we went to the aforementioned Chaldon mural. The church itself is mentioned in the Domesday book (1086, for all the non-Brits out there), but apparently the original church has been around since at least 727, although the current structure isn't quite that old. The mural itself dates from probably around 1200 and shows heaven and hell, with the saints above and the evil beneath being punished. As seems fairly typical for these things, hell seems a little more interesting, if only for the various tortures being imposed on the inhabitants. Again, yet another ancient church within only a few miles of our house. As our neighbour who took us there said, "Americans think 100 years is a long time, and the English think 100 miles is a long way." Pictures below.