“Not All Who Wander, Are Lost”

Sunday, the nineteenth COVID blog.

August has arrived and so far, it has been hot and sticky. I have just returned from a little break in the beautiful city of Bath and the fact that the weather was so humid actually made it far easier to visit, to explore and to sit outside, in terms of our current predicament.

Most of the world, myself included have decided to have a ‘staycation’ not many it seems, despite the ‘air bridges’ are flying off to explore other parts of our world, instead we are heeding scientific advice and staying closer to home.

These rules we are told will keep us safe, it doesn’t however, stop us from feeling a little sad.

Having visited Bath last year for my Daughter’s Hen Weekend I wanted to return to do several things. One was to visit The Roman Baths which I didn’t get a chance to do, the other was to visit The Jane Austen Centre.

Thanks to Covid only one of these were possible. I was however, not at all disappointed with my visit to The Roman Baths.

As always, it didn’t quite go to plan.

I had already pre-purchased my ticket as this is now a requirement. There was I discovered, a large discount for keyworkers, so if you too are classed in this category it would be advisable to check this summer, when visiting any local attractions.

I queued at the allotted time, stood on the socially distanced Roman themed markers and donned my face mask ready to enter the building.

I then chose an audio guide to explain the various archeological and historical features. Choice, it transpires being my mistake. It was all going swimmingly, I was really enjoying the commentary amazed that we have a natural hot spring in England (Bath being the only place it can be found) when my audio guide made a weird sound and stopped.

I thought I must have pressed a wrong button by mistake and then I managed to re-boot it after a few minutes.
As I moved along, without warning the numbers you needed to enter into your guide (which were printed on each information sign) suddenly changed and a selection of options were given. As you can only listen to one voice at a time I found this very confusing and irritating.

The voices were; the guide, no idea who she was but I liked her, then the option of Michael Rosen, this really being for children except, I like Michael Rosen, I love his poetry, I love his voice and I recently prayed for him while he was seriously ill in hospital with COVID 19 so I felt like I should listen (also, he gave the fun and silly facts which the official guide didn’t).
I was then faced with option three, which was Bill Bryson.
Seriously, now I had Bryson’s anecdotes thrown into the mix, I like his style of travel writing, I have taught lessons using extracts from his books, it was all just too much.

While contemplating this dilemma, fate then dealt her fickle hand as the audio spurted a strange sound and gave up the ghost, and there was no re-booting this time and so my choice was made.
Social distancing meaning everyone following a one way only path and waiting for others meant I needed to rely on reading the information boards quickly which were nowhere near as comprehensive, but needs must.

So much for helping out this mortal sister Minerva!

I really enjoyed my visit, there was so much more than I expected to see. The remains of the chambers inside, the various rooms, changing rooms, plunge pools, the Romans really were quite ingenious at the whole spa thing.

With my tour completed and although I knew I would not be able to enter, I decided to torture myself and find The Jane Austen Centre.

I knew that Austen had stayed in one of the houses in Gay Street (her house is now a Dentist) which is where the centre is located. I wanted to imagine I was standing in her footsteps.
(Austen wrote both ‘Persuasion‘ and ‘Northanger Abbey’ while she lived in Bath)

I also found ‘The Assembly Rooms’ another place I wanted to visit, which houses an exhibition of period costumes and a place that Jane Austen frequented as it held balls and the like for society at that time. Alas, again to my dismay, another no entry and a victim of Covid.

A little further along is ‘The Circus‘ a row of houses that looks as if it is straight out of a scene from the musical ‘Oliver’ and the song “Who Will Buy?” I once played Oliver’s Mother in a school production, I died within minutes only to then be resurrected and join the ensemble for the rest of musical (I’m not sure anyone noticed, I was wearing a bonnet).

When you are on your own you can just wander, I know that when I am alone I definitely notice more. When marvelling at the architecture with a delighted smile on my face, people it appeared were far more friendlier, perhaps due to pride at my delight in their home town.
I met several ladies (also walking on their own) who smiled and two that said “Good Afternoon” I really did feel like Jane at that point. I took photos of the things that made my heart glad.

I loved the entrances to these back gardens, along a little row of houses. It felt secret and special somehow.

A cheerful Postman smiled and past the time of day with me when I took this photo.

Then I found this…

I spent an awful long time in this bookshop, I wanted so much to whizz up and down on the ladders, this didn’t just make me smile, it made me feel like I wanted to live there!
I was recently asked; “If I could have a dream job what would it be?” For me it is not so much a job but an actual ‘dream.’

It would be to own an independent coffee/bookshop with an artists space to perform; writers, poets, musicians, my ‘dream’ in which I have now added ‘ladders.’

I obviously left with books.

I also visited the famous Sally Lunn’s to sample her wares.

This is probably where I felt the most ‘Austen’ due to the decor and ambience of the surroundings. The classical music, the waitress with a french accent that called me ‘Madame’ and so in homage I proclaim:

Whilst in the city I happened upon Miss Sally Lunn’s Tearoom. As the weather was most unsatisfactory in outlook for ones appearance, I deemed it possible that if I took rest, it would restore my senses and I would then be able to return refreshed. This would allow me, should I also happen upon Mr Darcy, whose disagreeable comments seem to thwart me at every turn to again look once more, as woman of a more respectable nature. I should not like to give any cause for concern that might allow such a thought to to enter the mind of the extraordinarily odd, Mr Fiztwilliam Darcy that is of course, should we meet but one must think of every eventuality!

I am pleased to say I did feel refreshed, The Lunn Bun was lovely, a little like a Brioche Bun but not. The cinnamon butter was wonderful and I couldn’t not order the ‘The Jane Austin Blend’ of coffee.

I did find popping in and out of places strange with thankfully ‘everyone’ in masks now. I did say to a young girl that served me whilst I was buying something in a shop that I was smiling under my mask and she said the kindest thing: “I know you are smiling, you smile with your eyes and I can hear it in your voice.”

I think we all need to remember, that there are more ways to smile, than just seeing our lips move.

I had a wonderful time in Bath, I again visited The Abbey and lit candles in prayer. It was almost reminiscent of Greece last year, when I was thrown out of the church, as when I arrived at The Abbey it was closing and so I returned the next day.

I stayed in a lovely Airbnb it was small and cosy although the bedroom area was in the rafters and even though I am vertically challenged I forgot, and bumped my head more than once!

I enjoyed my stay, I took three books, finished one and I am halfway through another. I think three was a little ambitious when there was so much to see and do. I hope to return again to finally visit the places this pandemic has stopped me from visiting.

Despite the restrictions which were so noticeable, the masks, hand sanitising, leaving contact details in every place I drank or ate I still had a wonderful stay. I also had the time to write an overdue letter, one which took me time. I always think letters deserve pages. I am a huge advocate of writing letters and I really should make the time to write more.

Perhaps then, I am far more Austen than I realise…

Stay Safe,

Joy xxx