Dec Update: Flat Robot in Hanham, United Kingdom
/Tuesday 20/12/2024.
Dear Otter class, I am sorry that I have not written to you sooner. We have been getting ready for Christmas. We have been shopping for presents, writing Christmas cards and baking. On Sunday it was dry so we walked along a country lane to church. The church is very old. It was built in 1380. There is a big house next to the church, they were both originally part of a monastery but now a family live in the house. The church was not very warm, I am glad I had my scarf on. The minister was very friendly. He wears special clothes when he takes a service. When we got home after church I helped grandma London make some cakes called flapjacks. They were yummy! I hope that you are all having fun getting ready for Christmas. I will write again soon J-robot
Tuesday 3/12/2024.
Dear Otter class,
Today grandad London suggested that we go to the Bath Christmas market. I ran upstairs to the bathroom but I could not find a Christmas market in the bath!
Grandad London explained that Bath is a very special city. It is 18 kilometres (11 miles) from Bristol. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is called Bath because there is a hot water spring there.
The Romans liked the hot water so much that they built some large baths and a temple there in 60 A.D. The baths are still there today. I took a quick swim when no one was looking.
More people moved to Bath. In the 12th century they built an Abbey which is still standing today.
In the 18th century Bath became a very fashionable place to live, so lots of grand houses were built. Some famous people lived there including the author Jane Austin.
The Christmas market was very busy. There were lots of nice things to buy. There were also small shops with Christmas window displays to look at. I found a shop with a yellow horse in the window.
Grandad London said that he would like fish and chips for lunch. I was surprised to learn that French fries are called chips here and chips are called crisps (it is like learning a whole new language!). I was brave and tried the fish and chips. I liked them!
After lunch I spotted an open top double decker bus. I ran upstairs but it was rather cold up there. Grandad London told me to get off the bus. I think I was a bit naughty today but I did have lots of fun.
I will write again soon
J-robot
Hanham Hall,
Hanham,
Bristol,
United Kingdom. Saturday 30/11/2024.
Dear Otter class,
It has rained a lot here this week so I have not been out much. I did not want my joints to get rusty.
Yesterday it was dry so we decided to get a double decker bus into Bristol. We walked a short way along the sidewalk to get to the bus stop (except a sidewalk is called a pavement here). When we got on the bus I realised that the bus driver was sitting on the wrong side and that she was driving on the wrong side of the road. I then realised that EVERYONE was driving on the wrong side of the road. I was a bit frightened but grandad London explained that in the United Kingdom (U.K.) everyone drives on the left.
Bristol was very busy. Lots of people were doing their Christmas shopping. There are lots of hills in Bristol and lots of old buildings. Parts of Bristol cathedral were built in 1140 A.D. I was a very young robot back then.
We went to a concert in a concert hall that had been previously been a church. The church was built in 1823. A.D.
We got the bus back home. This time we decided to sit upstairs. We had a very good view from the front seat.
I hope that you have all enjoyed Thanksgiving. They do not celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.K. Grandma says that we will have turkey and lots of other good things to eat at Christmas.
I will write again soon
J-robot
Hanham Hall,
Hanham,
Bristol,
United Kingdom.
Saturday 23/11/2024.
Dear Otter class,
I have just arrived at my host family’s house in Hanham, England. I am told that you pronounce Hanham as “Hanam”. I have traveled over 4,850 miles to get here.
I am staying with Jasper and Finn’s grandparents. They are called grandma and grandad London because the capital of England and the United Kingdom is called London. The United Kingdom is made up of 4 countries, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Hanham is in the south west of England. It is a small town near the city of Bristol.
It has rained a lot since I arrived here so I have not been able to go out and explore yet.
Grandad and grandma London are looking after me well. Grandma London gave me some batteries for breakfast but she says that I should try some different food for a change. I think that would be good. I have had lots of free electricity to drink because there are 15 solar panels on the roof of the house where I am staying.
Lots of things are the same in England as they are in America but English people have different words for some things. Grandma London has a small yard but she calls it her garden, she also calls the first floor the ground floor. It is a bit confusing.
I will write again soon
J-robot
