0:00:00 > 0:00:00- 888
0:00:00 > 0:00:03- I'm an incredibly lucky girl.
0:00:03 > 0:00:07- I'm going on a journey - around the world.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09- It starts here, today - Llandovery.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11- Why Llandovery?
0:00:11 > 0:00:15- The 52-degree line of latitude - passes right through it.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20- If I follow that line to the east, - I pass through Holland, Germany...
0:00:20 > 0:00:23- ..Poland, Siberia, Alaska, - Canada, Ireland...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26- ..until I return - to where I am today.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28- I'm in no rush.
0:00:28 > 0:00:34- I'll be stopping along the way - to see who, or what, is on the line.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37- # THERE SHE GOES - The LAs #
0:01:00 > 0:01:05- The idea of an invisible line - connecting us to all those places...
0:01:05 > 0:01:07- ..comes as a bit of a shock.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11- Few Welsh people realise - we're so far north.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- We're further north - than New York and Vancouver.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19- We're on the same latitude - as Calgary, Lake Baikal and Banff.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23- And a load of places - neither of us have heard of.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27- This is the 52-degree - line of latitude.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- It goes right through Europe...
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- ..from one end of Russia - to the other.
0:01:33 > 0:01:40- The other thing that connects these - places is the length of their day...
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- ..in terms of daylight hours.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47- The line scrapes the bottom - of the Aleutian Islands...
0:01:47 > 0:01:52- ..crosses Canada, passes Ireland - until it reaches Wales.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59- Every journey has a starting point.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01- Where better than Llandovery?
0:02:02 > 0:02:06- To be honest, I'd never stopped - in Llandovery before.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11- An interesting town, but not - as interesting as it was in 1922...
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- ..when the town had 47 pubs.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16- A great place for students!
0:02:18 > 0:02:20- Its renowned for its drovers.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25- 30,000 cattle, sheep and ducks - were driven from here each year.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27- Now it's my turn.
0:02:27 > 0:02:33- I'll be travelling 16,000 miles - over the next four months.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- I'd better make a start.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- Another familiar sight.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15- The Brecon Beacons.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20- The next mountains I'll see - will be the Urals in Russia.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27- Following the exact latitude line - would be impossible.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31- I'd have to cross fields, - rivers and bogs.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35- I've chosen the roads - closest to the line.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- This road leads to Hay-on-Wye.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- The border between England and Wales - runs right through it.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- You could be in Wales and England - at the same time.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51- Hay-on-Wye is famous - for its bookshops - over 30 of them.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- This is a shop too.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58- You can spend hours, even days, - looking for a bargain in the shops.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01- There are thousands of books here...
0:04:01 > 0:04:03- ..covering every subject - under the sun.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- There aren't many Welsh books here, - though.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- Even the birds in Hay-on-Wye...
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- ..raise their young - in educational surroundings.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- Birds of a feather.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- There are books for everyone.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- From paperbacks costing 50p - to rare first editions.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29- I found a book - that suited me to the ground.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- Hay is also famous - for its literary festival.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- It's held in May, at the same time - as the Urdd Eisteddfod.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- It's hosted such diverse speakers - as Bill Clinton and Ken Dodd.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49- One of the town's most unusual - attractions is this little shop...
0:04:49 > 0:04:53- ..which sells everything - you'd need for a doll's house.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- Walking through the door - is like stepping into Lilliput.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59- It's the brainchild - of Georgina Able...
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- ..or George - as she likes to be known.
0:05:02 > 0:05:07- She didn't have a doll's house as - a child, so she's spent 20 years...
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- ..making a huge doll's house - for herself.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13- The attention to detail - is incredible.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- She's thought of everything - - even a personalised mug.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- 20 years work?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22- Yeah.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26- Every cupboard contains - what should be there...
0:05:26 > 0:05:31- ..such as clothes and towels. - I'll bring that one out to show you.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- This one has towels and sheets.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43- In the drawer, there are - little dressers, table runners.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49- The dressing gowns on the door - are made out of cleaning cloths.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- You need patience - and nimble fingers.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56- She knitted this jumper - using cocktail sticks as needles.
0:06:02 > 0:06:07- George has even started a club - for doll's house enthusiasts.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11- Tonight, they're making - a swimming pool for the garden.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14- Do you all have doll's houses?
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- Do you all have doll's houses?- - We have around 20-30 between us.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- I think I've got seven.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21- Seven?!
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- This club includes men, too!
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- They're full of ideas.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- They recycle dish scourers - and margarine tubs.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35- I was slowly - drawn into their world.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38- Time to move on.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42- Farewell to Hay, - and farewell to Wales.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44- But not on my bike, thank God.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- Bye-bye, Wales.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- Oh, dear. Remind me - to brush my hair next time!
0:07:02 > 0:07:06- The landscape changes - as soon as we leave Wales.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- Apple orchards surround me.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12- We're in cider country.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15- But I never drink and drive!
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- I soon reach a posh hotel - in Moreton-in-Marsh.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22- I'm shattered.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- I'll sleep soundly tonight.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30- They tell me the ghost of - Dame Creswicke lives in this room.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- I'm too tired to worry about ghosts.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37- Good night!
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- According to legend...
0:07:47 > 0:07:51- ..Dame Creswicke's ghost - walks the corridors at night...
0:07:51 > 0:07:54- ..calling in to greet - some of the guests.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- EERIE MUSIC
0:08:06 > 0:08:08- No - I didn't see her.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- It's a good story to attract guests, - though.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- I'd keep my money in my pocket - if I were you.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- It's snowing - I can't believe it!
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- Sunshine yesterday, snow today.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29- They say this weather has come - from the east. We're going... east!
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- Siberia's arrived early!
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- On I go through the snow, - past un-pebbledashed villages.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- I'm so glad this next town - is on the line.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- Bletchley Park - - a park near Bletchley!
0:09:01 > 0:09:03- This is an interesting place.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08- It's where they cracked the Germans' - secret codes in World War II.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- It was called Station X then.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15- The cleverest people in Britain - were summoned here.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- They couldn't tell anyone - what they were doing.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- Not even after the War.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25- Details about it were only - made public in the 1970s.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27- Good morning.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- My chaperone was a true gentleman - - Frank Carter.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- There's a museum here now.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40- This is how the place looked - in the days of Station X.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45- The Germans knew nothing about - this place or the code breakers.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51- The focus is Enigma, a German device - which ended up in British hands.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55- Enigma translated - the codes into words...
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- ..and translated words into codes.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- Station X attempted to decipher - the codes.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- Did that make sense?
0:10:04 > 0:10:09- When you press a key on the - keyboard, that completes a circuit.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13- A current flows and lights a lamp - on this lamp panel.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- The circuit goes through the rotors - themselves.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- When you press the key, - the rotors step on by one position.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24- That means that the circuits change.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29- If you were to press the same key - twice in succession...
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- ..you wouldn't get the same - lamp light coming up twice.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38- The Germans reset the rotors - on their Enigmas every day.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43- The Brits had to start - from scratch every day...
0:10:43 > 0:10:46- ..and guess how the Germans - had reset them.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- Only then could they decipher - the messages.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- I tried to send a message in code.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- The next letter is a 'T'.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- Where are we? There.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03- 'T' gives us 'E' - and now we've got an 'H'.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05- That gives us an 'N'.
0:11:06 > 0:11:13- OK, your original word - has been enciphered to OZHEN.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- In order to decipher that OZHEN...
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- ..they would have - to try how many times?
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- The British or the Germans?
0:11:23 > 0:11:24- The British.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- The number of ways - you could set the machine up...
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- ..if you did it by trial and error - is astonishingly large.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- It's about - 158,000,000,000,000,000,000 ways.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41- That's impossible. - Even today it would be impossible.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44- These are the original buildings...
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- ..where the country's mathematical - brains worked day and night...
0:11:48 > 0:11:51- ..to crack the German codes.
0:11:51 > 0:11:57- One of them, Alan Turing, - invented one of the first computers.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00- It helped reduce - the possible code combinations...
0:12:00 > 0:12:03- ..from 158,000,000,000,000,000,000 - to 1,000,000.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07- Without the work these people - did at Bletchley Park...
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- ..more British servicemen - would have been killed in the War.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13- Millions, without a doubt.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- I knew nothing about it until now.
0:12:23 > 0:12:23- 888
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- 888- - 888
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- From Bletchley, I followed - the 52-degree latitude line...
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- ..to Letchworth, - the first garden city.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- The aim was to provide a garden - for every home...
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- ..with plenty of greenery - all around.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- One of the area's characteristics - is this species of black squirrel.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- They're not dirty grey squirrels!
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- This really is their colour.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- The people of Letchworth - have always been different.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02- The original residents - were very Bohemian.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08- Carefree people who roamed - the streets without gloves or hats!
0:13:08 > 0:13:13- People would come from far afield - to gawp at these gloveless people!
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- The town was designed by Quakers...
0:13:17 > 0:13:19- ..so no pubs were built.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- But we all need a social life...
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- ..so a non-alcoholic pub - was opened - the Skittles Inn.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- Originally, it was a temperance inn.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- It was called the Skittles Inn.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- Down here, - there was a skittles alley.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37- They served nothing - but soft drinks...
0:13:38 > 0:13:42- ..Cydrax, which was - a sort of apple juice, and Marmite.
0:13:42 > 0:13:43- Marmite?
0:13:43 > 0:13:44- Marmite?- - Marmite drink.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- And drinking chocolate.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52- Cadbury was one - of the founders of Letchworth.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54- There is the connection there.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- They were a very sober lot - by all accounts.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- The Spirella corset factory - was situated in Letchworth.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- It was world-renowned - and its corsets...
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- ..were worn by famous women...
0:14:11 > 0:14:16- ..such as Marilyn Monroe, - Mae West, Rita Hayworth and my gran.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- By the '70s, women wanted - to let things hang out.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- The company folded.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27- The old factory is now home - to a number of small companies.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- No corsets are sold here now but - there's an exhibition in the museum.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37- In the '30s and '40s, - most women had small stomachs.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- If you had a big stomach, it - was squashed flat inside a corset.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45- And you could do anything - wearing a corset!
0:14:46 > 0:14:48- A corset wasn't a handicap.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52- But I'm not sure - what this girl was trying to do.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57- They stopped making corsets - in Spirella in 1989.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59- Women wanted more freedom.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- If you want to see - some of the old corsets...
0:15:03 > 0:15:07- ..you have to visit the museum - and wear white gloves.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- This is what they used to wear - - in Mam's time!
0:15:12 > 0:15:17- This is the back - - this is how it would look on you.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- Someone else would pull - the cords tight and tie it up.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23- Sounds very painful!
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- They also had one in salmon pink.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30- This would be worn like this.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- These would hold up your stockings.
0:15:33 > 0:15:39- If you had a stomach, you could - pull it in with these cords.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- It means nothing to me - and my baggy jumpers!
0:15:45 > 0:15:49- I had a bit of a shock - when I saw this.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53- Will you just look at that!
0:15:53 > 0:15:56- It's only a demonstrator - - not the real thing!
0:15:57 > 0:15:58- Phew!
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- Farewell Spirella!
0:16:03 > 0:16:05- I've seen enough corsets.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09- It's time to head back on the road.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15- I leave the greenery of Letchworth - and head for the deep blue sea.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- This is Felixstowe - - one of Europe's largest ports.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30- They load and unload some of the - world's biggest commercial ships.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- If they're so big and heavy, - why don't they sink?
0:16:36 > 0:16:41- A crowd of ship-watchers - watch the ships come and go.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- Yes, ship-watchers!
0:16:43 > 0:16:48- Peter, Brian, Eddie - and Sam from the burger stall.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52- It was like a scene - from "Last of the Summer Wine".
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- It's like trainspotting. - But different.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57- Better.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58- Why is it better?
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Why is it better?- - They're bigger for a start.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- That's a point. Like trainspotters, - do you log everything down?
0:17:05 > 0:17:06- Yes, I do.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11- The last one I logged - is the one that just went out.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15- Stena Gothica. - And the time she went out - 1430.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22- The other page was this morning. - All the ships are at sea.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Are you a proper club?
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- Are you a proper club?- - No.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- It's purely a pastime.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32- There's nothing else to do - in Felixstowe.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39- True enough!
0:17:39 > 0:17:42- There isn't much to do in - Felixstowe.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45- It's a very leisurely place.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- A seaside town from the olden days.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51- A chips and ice cream town.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- Somewhere to go for a spin - on a Sunday afternoon.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01- You can stay in the car if you want.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- Felixstowe is also famous - for its seaside chalets.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32- Very pretty and colourful.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- People pay an annual rent for them.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39- Anything between 500 and 800...
0:18:39 > 0:18:42- ..similar to a static caravan - in Wales.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- You can't sleep in them, though.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49- If people get caught sleeping - in them, they get kicked out.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52- I like Felixstowe.
0:18:52 > 0:18:58- It's the type of place where you eat - fish and chips and mushy peas...
0:18:58 > 0:18:59- ..and pickled eggs.
0:19:00 > 0:19:01- It's very old-fashioned.
0:19:01 > 0:19:06- I like this place, the people, - the town and the chalets.
0:19:40 > 0:19:46- Across the bay is the last place - on the line in England - Harwich.
0:19:47 > 0:19:53- These two lighthouses used to guide - all the ships on the Channel.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58- But the sand moved, - and today they're good for nothing.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00- They're just tourist attractions.
0:20:01 > 0:20:07- New lighthouses have been built - to guide the boats safely ashore.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11- Some are used for fishing, - others to transport tourists.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17- Captain Christopher Jones lived - here.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- He captained the Mayflower aboard - which the Pilgrims left Plymouth...
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- ..sailing to Massachusetts in 1620.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- Harwich is full of lighthouses.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34- This was once a council house, - until someone had the bright idea...
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- ..to open a wireless and television - museum here.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- It's full of radios and TV sets...
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- ..from the days of Marconi, - right up to the '70s.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- There's a different decade - on each floor.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53- Particular tribute is paid - to Radio Caroline...
0:20:54 > 0:20:56- ..the first independent - radio station.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01- Their programmes were broadcast - just off the shores of Harwich...
0:21:01 > 0:21:03- ..in a boat called Mi Amigo.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10- Do you remember any of these?
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- Don't say too much - - you'll show your age!
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- Tens of children were raised - in this old council house.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25- I'm so jealous.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29- Having a bedroom with this view - would have been superb.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34- This is what you would have seen - first thing in the morning.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41- Fair play to Harwich Town Council - for supporting the arts.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- There are murals - all over the place...
0:21:45 > 0:21:49- ..portraying the sea's influence on - the town's culture and industries.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- It's time for me to set sail.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55- My ferry awaits.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02- From Harwich, - ships sail to Holland daily.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- That's where the line takes me next.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- The sea is very important - to the people of Harwich.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- I'll soon be boarding that colossus.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24- Don't be fooled by the blue skies - - it's freezing here!
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- This monster, which looks - like a big Thunderbird toy...
0:22:29 > 0:22:34- ..reaches the Hook of Holland - in three and a half hours.
0:22:34 > 0:22:35- They're not impressed!
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- The crossing used - to take eight hours.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- No wonder it's so popular now.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49- The catamaran is empty - and it's my turn to board.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- Farewell, England.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55- The first part of the journey - is over.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00- I hadn't expected to enjoy - the first part as much as I did.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03- Well, you know - - Powys, central England!
0:23:03 > 0:23:07- Shame on me - for thinking such thoughts!
0:23:07 > 0:23:10- You learn something new - wherever you go.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- And you learn the most - in the least likely places.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21- Next week - Holland, - and disaster in Gouda.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- S4C subtitles by- TROSOL Cyf.
0:23:40 > 0:23:41