We amended plans and decided today would be a quiet day. Between the showers we would take an opportunity to walk to the post office to buy a newspaper and a money order to pay my parking fine. Later, perhaps, we would walk downtown.
We accomplished the first objective without getting wet then waited for another shower to end before gathering jackets and umbrellas for the half hour walk to downtown.
The first stop was Wellington market, a mostly indoor market that is open four days a week for vendors to sell everything from fresh meat and produce, eggs and cheese to breads and cakes made that morning to second hand books to small electronics to framed prints and photographs. The meat from the butchers and the vegetables from the greengrocers come from local farms and are of excellent quality, always fresh and generally cheaper than comparable items in the local supermarkets.
The market was quite crowded and Mum explained this was normal, in her opinion the market was the only reason Wellington town center was surviving as a shopping destination and fending off the assault from the large supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s - in retail parks on the edge of town. The market has been In Wellington since the early 13th century, long may it continue.
We bought two individual cakes made with fresh cream for Patricia and I and a custard pie for Mum before going for morning coffee in a pub/coffee shop/restaurant on the edge of the square. I resisted the urge to try another local ale and instead ordered a latte.
After coffee we walked along the high street and window shopped. In a second hand store next to Sofia’s café I spied a framed old map of Shropshire for seven pounds fifty pence and could not resist the urge to buy it. I have no idea how we will carry the map home, but once we get it home it will make a great addition to one of the walls in my library. We also found a new washing machine for Mum with a great delivery and set-up charge since her 15 year old machine had given up the ghost yesterday morning.
We walked home past the church where I went to Sunday School as a boy. The church, built in MDCCXV, looks no different from when I attended services in 1963-64.
From the church we walked home through gently falling rain. Within a few minutes of getting home we made tea and coffee and sat down to enjoy our cakes. They were delicious.
The rain kept falling so we stayed home to read and write until early evening when it was time to visit Derek and Dawn’s for dinner.
And what a wonderful dinner it was. Croft original sherry for an aperitif, a superbly cooked and presented roast pork loin with steamed carrots, green beans and snow peas and potatoes sliced and cooked in the oven in a cream, basil, butter and garlic sauce. Dinner was served with brown gravy and accompanied by a delicious light white wine from Wollembi winery in South Australia. Dinner was capped with a wonderful desert of home-made cheese cake. During dinner we were regaled by stories from Derek and Dawn’s travels overseas. Delicious food, excellent drinks and interesting conversation. What more could we ask for? It was a delightful evening.
Wellington Parish Church constructed in 1754.
The clock in Wellington Town Square. the clock was erected as part of the Millenium celebrations
Mum buying fresh cream cakes from her "boyfriend' at the market
At Wellington market. A market has been held continuously in Wellington since the 13th century.
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