My short trip to Chippenham Sept. 27th through Oct. 1st 2024

 

A few days in Chippenham

End of September 2024 I went to see my old Friend Ollie in Chippenham. It is 59 (!) years ago, since we first met...
1965 I spent 12 months in Chippenham to learn English. This is when I got to know Ollie. We have kept up Contact and friendship through all the years.

Here some impressions of the journey and the stay:

Boarding...

National Express service London Heathrow to:

First thing after arrival was to have a real Ale and Fish and Chips at Wetherspoons

Next day (Saturday) we took a local bus to the City Bath. I motivated Ollie to join me. He has not been there "since ages"... Of course we went together.

Internet told me that on Saturdays there is a Farmers Market. Ollie was not aware of this and might go there now and again.

The Building the Market is in, is a former Railway Station built in 1876, closed in 1966 and converted into a shoping center and market hall recently.

Bath is a very busy town: Tourists all over the places!

The famous Pulteney Bridge with the river Avon

I was impressed by the number of chimneys on top of the old buildings.

 

In the evening we met Ollies brother John for a nice Indian meal. 

 Unfortunately we have not taken a photograph of that event.

John supports Bath Rugby Club (he has a season ticket there). Nice of him to give me this cap as a souvenir!

 From Sunday Lunch at the new Thai Restaurant in Chipenham we have a picture.

Monday morning I did a walk to the close Bakery and bought one of their famous Croissons.

On the way back to Ollies home I passed the house I lived in for over six months in 1966:
22 Tugela Road.

Later on that Monday we took a walk into the town of Chippenham.
I had a look into Chippenham Museum.

There is some swiss history in Chippenham: The Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Factory opened in 1873 and merged 1905 into Nestle. It produced condensed milk until Nestle closed the factory in the 1960s. The process of producing condensed milk was important to preserve milk in those days.
When I lived in Chippenham, the factory was stil operating! People clled it "Nessles".

The "Buttercross" is a historic building, built in the 15th century of wood. Originally used to sell butter and other dairy products. It was rebuilt in the 18th century in stone.

Looking at Museums make thirsty! A couple of Doom Bar (a lovely Cornish Beer) in the Wetherspoons helps!

 

Tuesday is the day when I travelled back home. This journey takes quite some time since the bus service Chippenham to London Heathrow is not very often and I had to check in at the airport in time. Therefore it took me the whole day...

Finally, with one hour delay (because a staff member of our aircraft apparently was sick and they had to wait for a replacement), we were boarding

Pouring rain in London, and also in Zurich, where we arrived in good time, so that I was able to get to a train that brought me home before midnight.

It ws a short, but really good journey!

By the way: The weather was very good. Quite some sunshine and no rain during the time we were outdoors.

And one thing I have to mention:
Ollie cooked a Borschtsch for me and even found sour cream to top it with!

Thank you Ollie, for this great time!