Despite a bright start to the day, the weather forecast was all doom and gloom. Undaunted, we set out in three cars for the drive to Winchester. Having parked the cars and donned our waterproofs, we made our way up Winchester's High Street, dragging some of the group past the chocolate shop - fortunately closed - and beyond the statue of King Alfred which dominates the lower end of the road. The Statue of King Alfred
		Some spotted roast pork for lunch at the Guildhall. However we pressed onwards and upwards to see the legendary Round Table in the Great Hall, which has been magnificently restored - completed in 1998. King Arthur's Round Table The other end of the Great Hall
	By this time it was raining quite hard and a detour behind the Great Hall, around the barracks with their grand façades, was cut short by the lure of lunch in favour of getting drenched. The Peninsula Barracks
	Lunch was taken in the Guildhall by those who fancied the pork - and in the cathedral refectory by those who didn't. The threatened downpour happened during the lunch break. Afterwards, most looked around the cathedral, then we all gathered again, together with three enthusuastic latecomers who joined us at mealtime, at the west front of the cathedral. The compulsory group photo for the archives
	By the time we'd completed the photo-shoot, the weather had brightened considerably and we explored the slightly quirky Deanery Garden . . . A charming seat in the Deanery Garden
	Blue sky miraculously appeared. We made our way down to the Riverside Walk via the tiny Water Close garden with its near hidden bust of Greek God Seraphus. The reticent bust of Seraphus - unseen by most passers-by
		Past the last remaining visible fragment of the city's Roman walls by the river, everyone went soppy over the ducks and swans . . . but we eventually dragged ourselves away. Well, what can you say about this? Except that some people can't ignore the camera!
	We were now running behind time and daylight was beginning to wane, so we abandoned the idea of walking along the Water Meadows. Instead we returned via College Street, past the College and Jane Austen's house, into St.Swithun Street and back into the Cathedral grounds through Priory Gate, via Cheyney Court . . . Cheyney Court makes everyone turn and stare
	Continuing past the Pilgrims' School and the Deanery we found ourselves once again in front of the Cathedral. We returned to the cars via the High Street with a detour around Abbey Gardens. Abbey Gardens - an oasis of tranquility in the city
Christ's Hospital and the Water Meadows will have to wait until next time. Those with sweet teeth stopped on the way back at Milbury's in Beauworth for cream tea and a spot of ice-dropping (you'll have to ask someone who was there about that!) A good, cultural, time was had by all.