I'M SO EXCITED.....

I'VE BEEN MAKING TRAVEL PLANS FOR MY YEARLY HOLIDAY TO ENGLAND AND IT NEVER FAILS TO EXCITE ME! I GO SOLO, AND STAY FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS. I RENT A LOVELY, SELF-CATERING COTTAGE IN A RURAL AREA OF SHROPSHIRE. THE COTTGE IS ATTACHED TO AN OLD FARMHOUSE AND THEY ARE BOTH ABOUT 300 YRS. OLD. I USUALLY LEAVE CHICAGO THE END OF MAY AND RETURN HOME THE FIRST OF JULY. I FLY INTO MANCHESTER AIRPORT, PICK UP MY RENTAL CAR, AND DRIVE 2 HOURS TO MY COTTAGE. THE FIRST PHOTO IS OF THE LANE THAT TAKES ME TO THE COTTAGE AND THE OTHER PHOTOS ARE OF A FEW OF THE SITES ALONG THE WAY. WHAT DO I DO THERE, YOU MIGHT WONDER? I SHOP, SHOP, SHOP: THE FLEAS, THE CAR BOOTS, THE ANTIQUE SHOPS. I VISIT MY FAVORITE VILLAGES AND FIND NEW ONES TO ADD TO MY LIST. I VISIT AND HAVE "TEA" WITH FRIENDS I HAVE MADE ALONG THE WAY. I HITCH RIDES INTO LONDON WITH THE FABULOUS ANTIQUE DEALER ROSIE WHO SELLS AT THE KENSINGTON RACE TRACK FLEA. I HIKE AND SNUFFLE OUT NEW AREAS TO HIKE. I TAKE DAY TRIPS TO OTHER COUNTIES AND EXPERIENCE WONDERFUL LUNCHES AT FABULOUS TEA SHOPS. LOTS TO DO AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT! AND THE GARDENS! EVEN THE HUMBLE VILLAGES HAVE WONDERFUL GARDENS AND HANGING BASKETS OVERFLOWING WITH FLOWERS! I GO FOSSIL HUNTING, BIRDWATCHING, AND, DID I MENTION SHOPPING? SOMETIMES FRIENDS IN THE U.S.A. WILL COME TO VISIT FOR A WEEK OR SO. BEST OF ALL, I DO THIS ALONE. NO CELL PHONES, AND NO COMPUTOR. I TALK TO MY FAMILY ONCE A WEEK TO TOUCH BASES AND CATCH UP. THIS HAS COME TO BE A VITAL WAY OF SELF THERAPY AND I REALIZE THAT I AM VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. IN ANOTHER POST, I WILL SHOW MORE PIC OF THE COTTAGE. CARE TO JOIN ME?