GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM AND TEWKSBURY....

You know how it is when you build yourself up to something and then the reality doesn't quite hit the spot....

well our arrival in Gloucester last Saturday was a bit like that...

To start with we were only stopping at a Premier Inn, not a place I had stayed in before...I know I have been a bit spoiled, but I have had to wait until my retirement to sample some of these lovely old hotels....anyway....

I was pleasantly surprised, the room was clean, not over big but adequate, the bed very comfortable and the staff delightful! ....so far so good..

We drove into the city to take our first look around and that was when we were a little disappointed....dusty grubby streets, shops closed...altogether a bit drab and absolutely not what we had pictured....and then we rounded a corner and found ourselves here.....

Gloucester Cathedral, what a stunning building.....and from here things only got better....

stunning architecture.......such a shame that those 'To let' signs are everywhere you visit now !.......

 unfortunately the Tailor wasn't in.....

A little gem ........

and the stunning dockside area where we found our first Antique shop....Its hard to believe looking at that sky that these pictures were taken within minutes of each other!.....

After a short stop for tea and cake we returned to our hotel with instructions on how to find the new shopping area in which there was another Antique Centre.....

On Sunday we found ourselves at Cheltenham Racecourse.....no not to back the gee gees, but to see what bargains we could find at the large car boot sale.....and bargains we did find, including some of the Masons Pink Vista I collect and a couple of pieces of Johnsons Goldendawn. 

We left here to go back into Gloucester only to find yet another CB, but after a brief tour we finally set off to find the second Antique Centre we had been told about.

This was on several floors with units filled with all kinds of treasures. We all found something to our liking here including DH so it was a very successful visit.

.......But the most amazing thing is that back at home on Monday evening I settled down to catch up with all you lovely bloggers when I spotted a post by Jayne at Country Cottage Chic showing some new things she had just put into her shop. One of these was a tin in the shape of an old cotton reel, and I knew it was one which I had picked up and almost bought on Sunday. I commented on Jayne's blog about it and explained that it had lost out to a piece of Johnsons Greydawn, and would you believe that was one of her items as well. talk about small world.

Well if you are in Gloucester and enjoy Antiques and Collectibles you must visit the Gloucester Antiques Centre at the Gloucester Quays, it is well worth a visit!

Well Monday found us heading for home, but we decided to check out Cheltenham and Tewkesbury while in the area and we were quite impressed. Cheltenham reminded me a bit of Bath, mostly the architecture...

and Tewkesbury very similar to Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire..........

only small but filled with tiny Antique shops, cafes and boutiques as well as Tewkesbury Abbey...no photo I am afraid as my camera battery failed, but another place worth a visit.

Well that was a bit of a marathon, if you're still here and not asleep, I am impressed and I apologise for the initial negative vibes about Gloucester and happy to say my first impression on this occasion was wrong.

Off now to read a few chapters before I turn in so.....

TTFN

Jenny xx