Tunbridge Wells and Pooh Country

• One day trip to Hampton Court had been so wonderful, so I decided to go out the following day as well. I had wanted to see the original site of Winnie the Pooh since I learned about it in my travel book. That's why I headed to Hartfield without question. The book showed the two ways to get to the destination; the first one is to take a train from London Victoria to East Grinstead, and the second is from London Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells. For me, it seemed to be easier to leave from Charing Cross, so first I arrived at Tunbridge Wells around 3:30pm. I knew that it was a bit late to start looking around the town. When I first saw the name of the city, I thought that I had ever heard of it somewhere, but I couldn't remember why I knew the name at that time.
• What troubled me first there was that I didn't know how to take the local bus Metroline to Hartfield. So I walked around a lot the bus stops in front of the station. I learned from the guide book that I had to take the bus 291 to Hartfield, but didn't know where I could get on and how to pay the fare. Therefore, to begin with, I followed the signs showing the tourist information in order to get any information how the local transportation system works. However, all I got at the centre was the local map and a walking tour map titled 'Heritage Walking Trail'. I didn't figure out the way of riding on buses. Finally, I gave up learning about the public transportation, and went back to the station. But this time, I found the bus stop for 291 right in front of the station, and knew that the next bus would come at 5:12 pm. It was still 4:30 when I was there. So I decided to wait for it, reading the map for the walking tour, which made me excited very much; the map shows that a few miles away from the stop, there is a house where Thackeray has stayed! Knowing about it, I got clear on the name of the town. Yes, there is a scene set in this place in his The Virginians, which I read two years ago. Consequently, I ran to the house because there was little time until the bus would come. I had to look for it for a while, but I could find it in the end. The house is now called "Thackeray's", and I felt something special to see it. The map has a short comments about it; "William Makepeace Thackeray, author of Vanity Fair amongst others, lodged and wrote in this little tile-hunting house, then known as Rock Villa and now a restaurant. Staying at the house for an extended period, his works include an essay about Tunbridge Wells, and part of his novel The Virginians is set in the town. Thackeray also spent part of his childhood in the town, staying at a cottage on the Common".
• I really got excited, but I didn't have enough time to appreciate it. I had to go back to the bus stop hastily. Eventually, I made it to the bus and could go to the village. I felt really nervous when I get on the bus, because I was not sure exactly how to get the ticket. So first I watched carefully what other passengers were doing, and understood that I had only to tell the driver where I'd like to go, and 'single' or 'return'. Then, I told the driver, 'Can I have a return to Hartfield?' and got the ticket to the destination. The price was 5.40 pounds, and I thought to myself that it was very expensive because in London, a single fare is just 90 pence. Hartfield is located in East Sussex, I forgot telling you this important information. However, the bus ride was worth the price, I thought soon after. I don't think I have ever seen such a rural area in my life. The magnificent scenery was beyond description. I was impressed very much, indeed.
• I didn't know where I should get off so I asked the driver, 'Is this Hartfield?'. Finally, seeing that I was a stranger, a gentleman told me where I needed to get off. Leaving the bus, the man asked me if I was going to the Pooh corner, and I answered, Yes. Then, he was very kind to tell me where it was. I had known that I couldn't enter the corner because it closes at 5 pm. It was 5:30 pm when I arrived there. Therefore, I walked to the Pooh Bridge. Although I had some difficulties to find the foot path to the bridge, I could manage to get there in the end. It took about 30-40 minutes. The neighbourhood around the bridge was in good order, and I dropped a stick from the bridge to a stream. Of course, I also took many pictures there.
• Resting there for a while, I went back to the bus stop, but I got another problem there; the last bus to Tunbdirge Wells had already gone, so I had to take a bus to East Grinstead station; I really regretted that I had bought a return ticket. From Hartfield, the last bus to East Grinstead on Saturday leaves at 7:33pm. I should have come earlier, I thought.
  

Hampton Court Palace

• The empire reading project was over on 21, last Thursday. As its assignment, each group had to make a presentation for all of students and staffs. Our team talked about the role of the river Thames for British Empire. We started with reading of the lines from Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and introduced the development of docks and the life of the Victorians around the river, showing the relevant pictures background with PowerPoint. Although I contributed little to making our arguments, I could help using the computer to project the images. However, I felt bad because I couldn't give my members any good idea for our presentation.
• The general meeting was supposed to be the last class of our course. So the professors provided us drinks (including alcohol) and snacks, and we enjoyed our session very much. I was also a bit excited and very impressed with the final speech of the course director. The course was just eight or nine months long, but I think that I have learned a lot. My frame of reference did enlarge, but I think that I should have tried to communicate with other members more positively. As a matter of fact, I'm still ashamed of my communication skill in English. Has my English improved? I quite doubt it. When I was on my way home, I felt like working harder on it.
• The following day(22, May, Fri.), I went to see Hampton Court Palace to celebrate the end of the course. First, I took a train to Waterloo station, then transferred from there to Hampton Court. I had to pay 14 pounds to look around the palace, but soon I knew that it was worth the money. The magnificent site really impressed me very much, as some of my pictures show. I could learn a bit about the life of Henry VIII by going through Kings Apartment and Chapel Royal. The garden was huge and splendid; nevertheless, what I found the most interesting was Tudor Kitchen; it looked familiar but every room was very large and specialized in each section; butcher, wine cellar, grilling room. It is said that the kitchen needed to serve 800 people when the palace was used as a residence. I think I could see the power of the Tudors through the facility.
  

Cheaper and better!

• I have been very busy moving for these weeks. Since May 3rd on Sunday, I have enjoyed a comfortable life in my new room.
• After I submitted the essays on April 22nd, I started looking for a better environment. It was not for my luxury, but for economy and comfort. I just wanted to save money because I had known that the rent was relatively high. My friends also told me that the rent I was paying was expensive compared with that of them. So I tried to find a nice lodging at a cheaper price. In addition, I had got some problems there; my room faced the front square, which had been refurbished since I arrived there; and the engineering works made lots of noise. Even at 8 am in the morning, the workers use their power saws and electric drills. It did not only wake me up, but also made me almost crazy. Moreover, the smokers always gather and talk loudly in front of the building because it's not allowed to smoke inside; and when I open the windows, the smokes and their hilarious chatting voices come in my room directly. It, needless to say, disturbs my concentration. Besides, some bad fellows talk and sing loudly in the corridor, and some of my stuffs in the fridge at the communal kitchen have been stolen a few times. I can't believe the moral of such fellows!
• Fortunately, I had already received the statement which allowed residents to terminate the contract before the due date; you can leave your room if you don't feel comfortable under the condition that you notice your moving 28days in advance. Therefore, while I had been working on the paper, I had already had the idea to move, and finally told my intention to the bursar at the beginning of April. Then, I searched and viewed 2 rooms to let, and decided to leave the university hall by the end of April.
• I have to say I prefer the current lodging very much; the rent is cheaper by more than 100 pounds; the neighbourhood is very quiet because the building itself is located in a residential area in the suburb; now I have my own fridge, microwave, and heating cooker hob so that I can cook with those facilities. Cooking myself leads to save money again. Sleeping in the double bed is really comfortable, and the bathroom, which is very clean and quite brand new, is also only for myself; I can take a shower anytime, which is very powerful and supplies hot water plentifully. Furthermore, the landlord is very nice and generous; he showed me around the town when I brought my belongings to my room for the first time, and lets me use his washing machine, vacuum cleaner, and heater. The other day, he gave me a Day Travel Card because he didn't use it any more for that day. I had to attend the meeting at my college that day, so I really appreciated his kindness and made the most use of it; he knows I have to go to the college on Thursdays.
• I like the location of my room, but it takes one and half hours to commute to school. This will be only the demerit of the cheaper rent. Now I'm living in the south of the Thames, near Greenwich. I moved from the west to south east, which gave me a totally different environment. The old accommodation was very near the central of London, which would be very good for those who like an urban life and excitement; but for me, who was born and raised in the country, I found that the suburb would be more suitable. I walked around the neighbourhood last weekends, and took lots of pictures of the Thames, which are shown below.