This posting is incomplete as at Jun 19th 2013... having great difficulty with WiFi connections here near the Grand Canyon..... will update when we get better connections....
UK/Brussels/Scotland - April 4-Jun 11 2013
It is hard to know how to begin documenting our 9 week adventure in UK and Canada, without long monologue about how amazing everything was. So rather than bore everyone, we will reduce our blog information to a minimum and précis a truly phenomenal and meaningful journey. Regardless it will be a little lengthy. The purpose of our blog is to have a personal record of our post retirement adventures, so we have included the highlights and some of our favourite photographs. I cannot begin to explain how thankful we are to be able to embark on this 2-month sojourn, which would not have been possible without the hospitality and generosity of family and friends who opened their homes to us. You all know who you are and we are immensely grateful to you.
So here is as brief a construction of our trip as possible.
After enjoying a leaving party at our friends mobile home in Ricon Country Rv Resort......
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| Fun Party at Rincon Country |
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| Janice and Kathleen |
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| Derek and Jim |
We left Tucson, Arizona on April 4th leaving our ‘condo’ in storage along with the truck and we flew in to Toronto, staying near the airport for a couple of days and having a quick visit to our ‘stuff’ in storage and a lovely dinner and hockey game with Janice’s brother and sister-in-law, Nick and Kathy.
We flew to UK April 5th (landing on the 6th) and went directly to Sister and brother-in-law Sue and John in Bedford UK. And so our journey began:
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England / Belgium
/ Wales / Scotland– April 6th- May 20th 2013
Sun April 7th
– Walk by the Canal near Bedford. Lovely day watching the narrow-boats and a
pint in a pub or two.
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| Sign of the Day |
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| Fun at the Locks |
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| Ride on a Narrow Boat |
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| YES! Lovely pint near the locks |
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| Derek and Sue helping out a boater. |
Mon April 8th – Cambridge – Walked and took in
the sights of this old University town. Beautiful day.
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| GO FIGURE!!!!! |
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| Yes we were here! |
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| Bridge over the river Cam !!!!! |
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| One of the few colleges at U of Cambrideg |
Tues April 9th – Eurostar to Brussels. Lunched on
the train (crayfish salad and a glass of wine we bought from Marks and Spencer
in St Pancras Station). Lovely dinner at home with Nephew Chris and his family
Maria, Gabriel and Adam. Maria.
Wed April 10th – Local museum in the morning with
Chris and the boys while Maria was at work, lunched on Fries and dip in town
(Brussels style) then explored Brussels, including the Military Museum and
several chocolatiers (Mmmmm). Met Maria for dinnner (Mussels - Brussels is
famous for it’s mussels, fries and chocolate).
Thurs April 11th - After exploring more of the
downtown area of Brussels including the EU buildings, we met Maria for lunch at
her workplace and then picked the boys up from school before heading back to
catch the Eurostar, through amazing rush-hour traffic .. kudos to Chris for
getting us there in time!!!
Pictures from Brussels: Unfortunately it appears I did not get any pictures of Maria. Not intentional. Sorry.
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| Gabriel and Adam Exploring the Museum |
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| Happy after Fries and dipping sauce for lunch |
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| CUTE!!! |
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| Chris, Derek Adam and Janice (taken by Gabriel) |
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| Belgian Cream desserts... YUMMMMM! |
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| The famous Pissing Boy statue in Brussels |
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| Demonstrators near the European Commission |
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| ADAM! |
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| GABRIEL! |
Fri April 12th – Relaxing day with Sue and John
around Bedford… walked around a local lake and had a fabulous pint (Abbot ale)
in the Bell (a favourite pub).
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| Parking lot posts.. local artists- great idea |
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| Loved the bench |
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| Add caption |
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| Abbot Ale in the Bell |
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| Our Favourite pub |
Sat April 13th – Northampton for the day. Interesting tour around the Town Hall. The
history and architecture around England are a constant source of fascination
and enjoyment.
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| Northampton Market |
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| Add caption |
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| Town hall |
Sun April 14th. Train from Bedford to St.Pancras,
London underground to Paddington, then train to St. Austell, Cornwall fro our
very first visit to this picturesque part of England. Met by cousin Jackie and
John at the station and enjoyed lovely dinner with them at their home.
Mon April 15th – Jackie and John gave us a tour
of local villages (the names which escape us except Megavissey and Boscastle).
In the evening Derek and I joined Jackie on her regular Monday night ‘Hash’
run (look it up) and then celebrated in
the pub where Derek and I were subjected the the ‘hash’ tradition of ‘down
downs’. At which Janice displayed her natural talents. Our sin, I presume was
being daft enough to travel thousands of miles to go on a hash. It seems that people who participate in this strange
sport are described as either runners with a drinking problem, or drinkers with
a running problem.
Tuesday April 16th – Trip to Port Isaac on the
North Cornwall coast which is the village where British TV series
Doc Martin is filmed. In the show it is called Portwenn. Then on to Tintagel and afternoon cream tea
at Camelot. Surprise arrival of cousin Gill to stay for a couple of nights.
Wonderful dinner at home with Jackie, John and Gill.
Wednesday April 17th – While John worked we went
to Padstow and toured around the area. Pub lunch. Fantastic fish and chips at
home for dinner.
Photos from Cornwall.... will label later.................
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| Ice Cream in Megavissey |
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| GRAVE FROM THE 1500'S |
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| NOT MUCH NEWS TODAY I GUESS |
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| Such a lovely fishing village |
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| Tight streets |
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| Funkiest Bus shelter EVER!!!! |
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| View from Jackie and John's house |
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| PARROT CAGE ON SIDE OF HOUSE |
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| 'Tremella" |
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| CORNISH PASTY....... WONDERFUL!!!! |
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| IS THAT THE DOC HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE??? |
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| DEREK AT NOEL COWARD'S FAVOURITE TABLE AT CAMELOT |
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| HAPPY TIMES WITH JACKIE IN TINTAGEL/CAMELOT |
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| Doc Martin's surgery and house |
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| Cream Tea in Camelot tied for best with Royal Yacht Britannia |
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| Yum!! |
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| Tintagel Post Office |
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| Here's to a great day and great cousins |
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| Padstow Harbour |
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| Alms houses Padstow |
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| Hanging out in Jackie and John's Kitchen |
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| View from Jackie's and John's house lounge. |
Thursday April 18th – Train back to Bedford after
picking up some famous fresh Cornish Pasties for the trip and some frozen ones
for another day. The train between Paddington and St Austell is picturesque and
relaxing as it winds its way through the English countryside, with beautiful
views of the coast around Portsmouth.
Dinner with Sue and John (lovely homemade cottage pie)
Friday April 19th – Off to Wingrave with Sue and
John to visit cousin Sandra and Doug for a delicious lunch an interesting walk
around this very old village… houses dating back to the 16th
century… quite fascinating. Good to catch up with family. Enjoyed drive through grounds of Woburn Abbey and saw the abundant deer.
Thanks to John for doing all the driving.
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| Sue, Sandra and Janice... happy after great lunch!! |
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| Deer at Woburn Abbey estate |
Saturday April 20th - LONDON for the day. Derek and Janice braved
the trains and underground alone and ‘did’ London in a day. Changing of the
Guard, Churchill War rooms, Tower of London and a ride on the London Eye, and a
pint in a great pub across from Big Ben. Train to Bedford was cancelled on
return as the lines were down. Thank goodness John picked us up in ‘Sandy’.
Sunday April 21st – Church with Sue and John at
their regular Church, and then on to a pub for
Sunday roast dinner (lunch). VERY tasty. Toured around lovely English
villages and walked off the lunch before having another quick beer before
heading home for some snacks and an evening at home.
Tuesday April 23rd – Bedford to Merseyside
Time to say goodbye to Sue and John and Bedford and head up
to Merseyside by train. Met in Chester by Gill who drove us to our friends
Derek and Lin’s house in Bebington. Settled in, unpacked and re-packed for trip
to Lake District.
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| PACKING US A LUNCH FOR THE TRIP |
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| FULL OF MANURE... COULDN'T;T WAIT TO PASS HIM |
Wed April 24th – Friday 26th -Left
early and drove to the Lake District for a two day sojourn in Windemere. Stayed
at a lovely small hotel (Hillthwaite House). Fabulous breakfasts and a great
dinner on the first night. Over the next
couple of days we walked, drove around the Lake district, seeing Coniston,
taking the car ferry across Lake Windemere, visiting the Gingerbread shop in
Grassmere which has been making fresh ginderbread using an old recipe for over
a 100 years. We just plain enjoyed catching up with dear friends and enjoying
this beautiful and scenic part of England.
All in all a great 3 day/2 night break. Unfortunately on the last day
after a trek up to Lilly Tarn our friend Derek slipped in the mud and hurt his
hand. This initially caused great amusement, even hilarity as we gaffawed our
way back to Merseyside. We all felt a little guilty about our tireless
ridiculing of his muddy fall when a quick visit to the local hospital revealed
a spiral fracture in his hand, which plagued the poor guy for the rest of our
stay.
PICTURES FROM LAKE DISTRICT... WILL LABEL LATER:.....
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| MERSEY TUNNEL |
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| FIRST WALK IN THE LAKES! |
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| BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH COUNTRY ROADS |
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| "PERMISSIVE' FOOTPATH |
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| THE OTHER DEREK (RISKING LIFE AND LIMB) |
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| CONSERVATORY AT HILLTHWAITE HOTEL, WINDEMERE! |
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| HILLTHWAITE HOTEL - 2 NIGHTS ... LOVELY |
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| VIEW FROM OUR ROOM |
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| GRASSMERE GINGERBREAD SHOP.... DELICIOUS!!! |
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| DEREK AND LIN... INTREPID HIKERS |
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| PASTORAL SCENE IN THE LAKES |
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| THE WALK WHERE LIN AND I WORRIED ABOUT A LITTLE LAMB!! |
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| JANICE LOVES LAMBS!!!! |
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| SO ADORABLE |
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| MAKES YOU WANT TO PAINT!! |
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| AWWWW ... SO CUTE |
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| ENOUGH ALREADY!!! |
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| NOT TO BE OUTDONE... OUR TURN!! |
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| OUR GUIDE AND EXPERT ON POINTING THINGS OUT!! |
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| FABUOUS PUB .. THE DRUNKEN DUCK!! |
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| GOOD TIMES BEFORE THE 'FALL' |
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| LILLY TARN |
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| LAST MORNING- AT BREAKFAST.. YUMMY SMOKED HADDOCK |
Sat April 27th
– Reunion with the ‘Highfield cousins’ at the Wheatsheaf (The ‘Thatch”). Many
lamb shanks to be seen. Attended by Gill, Hillary, Steve, Lydia, Jack, Alex,
Nancy, Derek, Janice, Angus (Tony), Gail, Ryan. Visit with Harry later then off
to Liverpool on the train with Derek and Lin to see a play (forgotten the
title) at the Liverpool Playhouse theatre. Great fun.
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| MY LAMB SHANK AT THE WHEATSHEAF-- WONDERFUL |
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| STEVE AND HIS MUM AUNTY NANCY |
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| STEVE AND LYDIA |
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| THE FIVE COUSINS |
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| JACK, RYAN AND ALEX |
Sun April 28th
– Visit with Janice’s nephew Scott and his family, Andrea, Leyton and Taylor.
Lunch at the Harvest Mouse (converted Windmill in Irby)
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| AWWW... SCOTT AND LEYTON |
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| THE WHOLE FAM DAMILY!! |
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| WAY TOO CUTE TO RESIST!!! |
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| FUN LUNCH AT THE COUNTRY MOUSE |
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| A BIG HUG FOR GREAT AUNT J. |
Mon April 29th - Tue
April 30th – Wales to visit with Janice’s cousin Sheila and
Aunty Joan in Colwyn Bay. Stayed at Sheila’s house. Unfortunately her husband
Graham was away. On Monday we went to see Aunty Joan’s new apartment and then
off for lunch in Colwyn Bay. Later we went for a walk up the Little Orm and
walked round Conway before a lovely homemade dinner at Sheilas. The next day we
went for a walk up the hill behind Sheila’s house before setting off through
Wales stopping along the way on Bets-y-Coed and then thorugh Loggerheads to
climb Moel Fammau to the top (a place Janice used to go often with her family
as a youngster), headed back to Derek and Lin’s for dinner.
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| SHEILA, AUNTY JOAN AND JANICE |
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| MY FAVOURITE AUNTY |
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| CUTE |
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| I THINK THIS IS THE GREAT ORM FROM THE LITTLE ORM |
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| LLANDUDNO, NORTH WALES |
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| CONWAY CASTLE |
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| LITTLEST HOUSE IN GREAT BRITAIN |
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| AUNTY JOAN'S NEW APARTMENT |
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| DELICIOUS DINNER AT SHEILA'S |
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| SHEILA'S HOUSE |
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| AT THE BACK |
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| VIEW FROM HILL AT BACK |
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| RE-KINDLING OLD FRIENDSHIPS WITH MY COUSIN SHEILA |
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| STOP OFF IN BETS-Y-COED |
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| BETS-Y-COED |
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| ROADSIDE PHEASANT.. SAW LOTS !! |
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| Not a one-way street!!!!! But I think he has the right of way!!! |
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| Narrow Roads.. lovely hedge-rows |
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| ON THE WAY TO MOEL FAMMAU |
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| Tower at the top of Moel Fammau |
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| Almost there!!! |
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| Yeehaa!! Made it |
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| Can see forever!! |
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| Speak softly and carry a big stick |
Wed May 1st
– Visited Janice’s brother Tony and Jenny and went for a lunch in Parkgate at The Old Quay. Also went to see the Birkenhead Priory with
Derek and Lin.
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| TONY AND DEREK |
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| TONY AND JENNY'S COTTAGE IN GREAT SUTTON |
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| ME AND MY BIG BROTHER |
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| VIEW OF LIVERPOOL FROM THE BIRKENHEAD PRIORY |
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| PRIORY GROUNDS |
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| BIRKENHEAD PRIORY |
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| Rather large soother... BONE!! |
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| YUMMY!! |
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| Happiness is! - Great Nieces!! |
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| Happy times with Harriet |
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| Two Sisters with three sisters |
Friday May 3rd
– Janice’s Birthday. Lovely Breakfast at Robin and Sam’s followed by a walk
through a park with the kids and a picnic lunch before saying goodbye’s and
heading back to Derek and Lin’s and a birthday dinner at The Three Stags.
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| CUTE!! |
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| AWWWW!! |
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| Robin and Derek watching John with great fear!!! |
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| Someone loves great uncle Derek! |
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| BYE BYE!!! We'll miss ya!! |
Saturday May 4th
– We did a walk (drive) down memory lane to visit Bromborough Village,
Bebington and Rock Ferry.
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| St Barnabas, Bromborough... Married here! LONG AGO!! |
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| A special place!! |
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| Giggle ---- no comment!! |
Sunday May 5th
– THE long walk (9 miles- 14.5 km) with Derek and Lin. Train from Spital station to Chester,
walked to Ellesmere Port along the canal towpath. Great walk saw lots of narrow boats and had a little packed lunch along the way. A rewarding cuppa at the Boat Museum, then hopped the train back to Spital station.
Derek and Janice had a quick pint at the Three Stags.
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| Just getting started!! |
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| Note the warm clothes are tossed off!! |
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| Gettin tired!! |
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| Our friends Derek and Lin... not changed in 45 years!! |
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| Cake Allie made for hubby Lee's 40th ... all handmade... WOW!! |
Monday May 6th. Visited Vanda (next door to Janice’s
childhood home) and met her new puppy!! Then went with Lin to the Town Lane Cemetery to look up
some old family gravesites.
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| I WANT ONE!!!!! |
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| VANDA AND HER CANINE FAMILY!!! |
Tuesday May 7th
–Derek helped out at Sally’s house with the other Derek. Packed and had meal at
home with Derek and Lin.
Wednesday May 8th
– Said goodbyes (for now!!) and headed to Derek’s cousin Gillian, stopping for a quick visit
with Janice’s brother Tony and a drink at the White Lion in Childer Thornton.
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| Yes.. this Pub was built in 1724 |
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| My Big brother Tony! |
Thurs May 9th
– Sat May 11th- Lovely visit with Gillian which culminated with
another ‘reunion’ at Gillians (after ‘borrowing a dining set from a neighbor in
the court). A relaxing and fun visit with great food, a few bottles of
champagne and many laughs.
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| WISH I COULD REMEMBER NAME OF THESE VEGGIES |
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| THE BEGINNINGS OF GILL'S FAMOUS FISH PIE.... YUMMMY!! |
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| GILL ---MAKING MIRACLES IN THE KITCHEN |
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| JACK, HILLARY, GILL AND NANCY |
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| LOVELY JACK!! |
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| LOVELY ALEX |
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| COUSINS CATCHING UP IN THE KITCHEN.. STEVE AND DEREK |
Sun May 12th
-Mon May 13th – Said goodbyes and headed up to Edinburgh,
Scotland. Visited Edinburgh castle and the Royal Yacht Britannia. Stayed in B
and B on fringes of Edinburgh on bus route.
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| EDINBURGH!! |
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| LOVE THE BUSES |
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| AT THE HEL OF THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA |
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| TOP DECK OF THE BUS BACK |
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| ROYAL PROMENADE DECK.. FAMILY PHOTO PLACE |
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| CREAM TEA - TIED WITH CAMELOT FOR THE VERY BEST!!! |
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| LIZ'S CABIN |
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| HOLLYROOD! |
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| EDINBURGH CASTLE OUTLINE IN THE EVENING |
Tues May 14th
– left Edinburgh and headed up to a B and B in the village of Newtonmore, Passing
through Pitlochry and visiting the Blair Athol Distillery (Bells) and the
Dalwhinnie Distillery for a wee dram. The B and B was beautiful. Huge room with
4 poster bed, fantastic Scottish smoked salmon benedict for breakfast, full
size snooker table … just lovely.
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| THEY MAKE BELL'S SCOTCH HERE!! |
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| ENTRY TO DALWHINNIE DISTILLERY |
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| OUR ROOM AT THE BEST B AND B (NEWTONMORE) |
Wed May 15th
– Loch Ness and Ben Nevis… up the cable car and walked up to a look-out. Stayed
the night in Fort William at a much forgettable hotel.
Saturday May 18
Drove through Scottish countryside to Oban and had a
distillery tour (and wee dram). Drove back to Fort William.
Sunday May 19th
– Drove through the country side and stopped briefly at Loch Lomond, to an Inn in Paisley (just outside Glasgow)
for our last Night in Scotland … had an amazing cod meal in an Italian
Restaurant close by. Packed ready for flight to Canada
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| Loch Lomand |
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| Loch Lomand |
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| Our Last night in Scotland - Lovely place close to airport. |
May 20th –
Jun 11th
This three weeks was spent catching up with friends and
family.
We stayed with Janice’s Brother Nick and Kathy, friend
Tiina, friends Al and Tina and friends Hillary and Ted. We spent the time
catching up on dental and doctors appointments and checking out our ‘stuff’ in
storage. Had some amazing meals and fun times with everyone and will be forever
grateful for all the kindness and hospitality we received from everyone. Saw an
amazing play in Toronto (Kim’s Convenience) and Janice picked up her ‘Wedding
Outfit’ in the Distillery District in Toronto (ready for August). We spent much
time with sons Braden and Grant who have recently moved back into the area
after finishing up at college/univ.
Sunday May 19th
– Drove through the country side and stopped briefly at Loch Lomond, to an Inn in Paisley (just outside Glasgow)
for our last Night in Scotland … had an amazing cod meal in an Italian
Restaurant close by. Packed ready for flight to Canada
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