Homeward Bound

We arrived in Dover after our cruise yesterday and headed West via the M20, M25, M3  and then the good old 303. ( I still remember sitting  on the steps outside Mr White’s shop collecting car numbers. God, you would have to be so quick today!)

Anyway, I digress yet again. Traffic was pretty good until we got on to Salisbury Plain when we crawled for miles and miles towards Amesbury. “Queues likely”  the signs said but not why. However, once past Stonehenge the traffic disappeared as if by magic and once again we were in top gear enjoying the scenery.

Rain clouds threatened the further west we went.

I love the scenery across the plain – such big skies and huge vistas.

As we approached the Ilminster bypass we saw a police car and an ambulance going very slowly-

and then we crawled to a halt. No traffic moving on either carriageway and more and more cars piling up behind us. Mike turned the car round and we headed back around the roundabout and took the Ilminster exit. We found out  later that the whole bypass had been closed due to a vehicle on fire and there were major delays.

And that is why I’m posting today – a few photos of our home town on a summers day in July. A most welcome break from a tedious journey.

Love Lane – happy memories of number 8.

The post office where I very nearly got run over as a child.

Barclays Bank – still there.

Nat West – still there.

And Lloyds – still there. Lots of money in this little town. Which reminds me – John Satchell told me that Gordon Ramsey has bought a house in Ilminster! So he does have some taste!

North Street school, boys on the left, girls on the right.

Houses now built in the old playground. Remember those toilets where the water ran under each one – Yuck.

Girls Grammar School

Back in the car, passing the Dolphin and onwards to Station Road and the 303. Umm, perhaps not, still queues at the roundabout so we turned tail, drove back across what was Brittens fields, past the Rec and into Ditton Street. A right turn took us to Chard and home that way.

This made what could have been a painful journey into a very happy one for me. Not sure how Mike felt - bless!

JJ

PS – a final photo for all those who went to Chard Convent -

Looks more like Dracula’s castle to me – I hated it. But that,as they say, is another story.