Cemeteries - and Widows

 After a full day of cooking and cleaning yesterday, we were both ready to do a little sight-seeing. We set out by car for ancestral lands (Moulsford, Cholsey, and Goring). It was a beautiful mostly clear day in this fair land. Over hill and dale we went, traveling along narrow country roads barely big enough for one car, let alone two. We went in, out and through several small villages.

We went to the old churches in each of the communities, searching for headstones of my Shingleton ancestors. That is where the entire line of Shingletons lived back to where we can find no more - back to the 1600's. The churches were all there as far back as that, and most assuredly there are the mouldering remains of Shingleton ancestors there somewhere in those burial grounds, but unfortunately they were not to be found. Headstones abounded with all traces of inscriptions long-since eroded away. 

Look at the name of the street!

Ah the joys of driving around in the country! -two-way roads barely big enough for one car and a speed limit of 60 miles per hour.

I am unsure why this area was so overgrown with weeds, but I waded through most of them looking for a Shingleton, with no success. I figured though, that Richard, my great great great grandfather was probably not significant enough to warrant a large and long-lasting headstone.

Yes indeed, this is the grave of Agatha Christie

Ever the good sport, SK wandered in among the overgrowth of vines and under the low-hanging branches of the tree to look for Shingletons.

In the little town of Goring, there were headstones from the early 1800's, and I was looking for my great great great grandfather Richard who died in 1865. I suspect he was not important enough to deserve a grand tombstone that would stand the test of time.

But it was a grand day, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time in and around those villages. We are both feeling the desire to see more of England, when we aren't involved with the mission, the missionaries or the young adults, or the ward. I think with so many leaving town now, including our bishop for a month (he is going to visit his family - siblings, children and possibly grandchildren in Utah), there will be less and less to do. 

Next week, we will probably be transferring missionaries around for a couple of days. We have quite a few new ones who will be finishing their isolation by Monday.

Around 7, Emma called to ask if we were busy. I said that we weren't doing anything special. She has heard from her family that "The Black Widow" movie was very good and asked if we would like to go see it with her. We looked at each other questioningly - and answered "yes." 

It wasn't our first choice of things to do on a Friday night, but Emma was our first choice, so we walked over to the local mall where there is a nice theater. We sat through commercials and trailers, and then saw the movie. I quite liked it. I think it may be my favorite Avenger movie. The soundtrack was wonderful.

Emma was cute. Who wants to be seen on a Friday night with what looks like your grandparents? She didn't seem to mind at all. We chattered away throughout the before-the-movie stuff. Afterwards, we walked her downtown to her bus stop, talking all the way. She is so easy to be around, and so fun.

Great Day!