day 5: the return of the princess

My dream of becoming a princess was ruthlessly dashed this morning at Warwick Castle. I was refused entry to the Princess Tower. It is only for kids. Looks like I am a few years too late. I settled for a photograph with the princess who was welcoming kids into the tower.

The rejection was still too much to bear. So Serene and Gavin thought it best to bring me to quiet Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born. I rowed a boat down the river and fed the swans some leftover tea cakes from lunch.

We are back at Union Court, where Gavin lives. The lamb hot pot is in the oven. The clothes are in the laundry and some in the dryer. After dinner, Jerrain and I will have some heavy packing to do. We leave Coventry tomorrow, but not before we see Cotswold.

• Location: Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-avon, Britain
• Cost: £19.95 Warwick Castle, £4 half hour boat rental, £3 fish and chips for lunch
• Highlight: Rowing down the river and feeding the swans at Stratford, and sipping mulled wine as we cuddled in the room to watch BBC's Over the Rainbow